**Valeria Massarelli (Venezuela), AFPC-USA Professional Excellence Awardee 2022.**

Valeria Massarelli is a journalist at NTN24, an international television news network and a Professional Excellence Awardee from the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents (AFPC-USA). She is the Senior Producer of Efecto Naím, an Emmy-winning newsmagazine show that offers insightful analysis on the trends shaping the world, hosted and directed by critically acclaimed author Moisés Naím. She is also the Executive Producer of Leaders, an interview show that tells the story of individuals whose creativity, vision and leadership are changing the world. Originally from Venezuela, Valeria Massarelli has a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Caracas and a Master’s in Journalism from Georgetown University.

You have been selected as one of the Professional Excellence Awardees for 2022-2023 by the Association and Club of Foreign Press Correspondents in the USA. How does that make you feel, and what message do you want to share with the community of foreign correspondents in the US?

Valeria Massarelli from Venezuela received her award from George Svigos, Executive Director of Communications, GM International, during the Annual Foreign Press Awards Ceremony on December 15, 2022, in New York.

It is honestly an amazing honor. I conceived this story as women were fighting for their rights here in the United States and it ended up having a lot of traction, especially in my home region of Latin America. I was very meticulous in producing an unbiased report, giving the correct facts and figures so our audience understood the importance of the debate, not only for the U.S. but for our region. I’m very proud of what we accomplished. As foreign correspondents in the U.S., we are responsible for explaining domestic trends to our international audience and how they could affect us. I think that is a very important aspect to remember while writing a story.

What do you see as essential in the role that the Association and Club of Foreign Press Correspondents play in support of the community of foreign journalists in America?

Organizations such as the Association and Club of Foreign Press Correspondents give us the opportunity to connect with people who are in the same hustle as us. And that is extremely valuable, especially when you are trying to make a name for yourself in a country that is not your own. In my case, there is always going to be a language barrier because English is not my first language. Meeting other successful foreign journalists who have an accent like mine is incredibly reassuring because it is a reminder that most of the obstacles we face are in our own heads. The AFPC has allowed me to connect with colleagues who have had the same struggles, victories, and challenges as me, which has helped me a lot during my career.

What do you consider to be the most challenging aspect of your job as a US-based foreign correspondent?

The most challenging aspect has been keeping up with the ever-changing U.S. news cycle. Reporting from Washington D.C. means that you are in the epicenter of decision-making. There is always a news story to break. But that same dynamic can start to feel overwhelming because you need to manage a lot of information about many different topics, including complex ones such as technology, science, and politics. You might be preparing to report on domestic immigration policy one day but instead you may end up discussing the latest solution for the climate crisis. You have to be able to adapt and overcome.

What is the best way for a foreign journalist to succeed as a US correspondent?

Everyone has a different version of "success". In my case, I wouldn’t be anything without my team. Television is all about teamwork. I am very privileged to be surrounded by amazing journalists from different backgrounds and nationalities that always bring a new point of view to the table. In my opinion, to achieve success you have to surround yourself with people that you admire. You learn from them. Also, it is very important not to fall in love with your own ideas and to be able to listen to other people's criticism. Putting these principles into practice has helped me grow as a professional.

What has been the most challenging or complex story you have covered from the US as a foreign journalist?

I would have to say Donald Trump's presidency. During the Trump administration, misinformation reigned and the media was repeatedly attacked and discredited. We were forced into a battle. We had to regain the public’s trust while the person sitting in the highest office in the United States kept launching missiles against us. Those four years were particularly difficult for me because it was when I started working as a foreign correspondent. Nevertheless, I learned a lot and it helped me become the journalist I am today. But it was definitely the greatest challenge of my career.

What criteria do you use to select the stories you think are worthwhile to cover?

This is a good question. I think all stories are worth covering. It’s all about finding the right angle. I've had incredibly good mentors throughout my career who taught me to always look beyond the surface of a story. In order to make it appealing to our audience I always try to find a compelling example — something that will connect to our audience — and start telling the story from there.

What would you have done differently if you had started your career in journalism?

I think I would have ventured earlier into the intersection between journalism and documentaries. When I was starting my career, I was very scared to fail. So, I decided to stick to what I knew and didn’t really take risks. Now, I know that failure is a part of the journey and that it only makes you a better professional.