Thinking outside the Cable Box
By Natalie Tejeda

When people hear the word public access they tend to think of Wayne's World type amateur programming. But for some of us budding reporters working for Garden Grove's Channel 3, we tend to put our finished product on a much more professional level.

For almost a decade, the city of Garden Grove has housed and funded a weekly news show that provides an excellent opportunity for us newbies to the business to get the skills required to become talented journalists.

I started working at Channel 3 my senior year in college. While finishing my degree, I was able to work in my field and be part of the news operation. On a daily basis I work with great photographers, edit packages and cover stories.

Now I know what you're thinking. What can a city news show cover that could possibly compete with the Los Angeles market. Lots. We provide in depth coverage of Garden Grove as well as the rest of Orange County.

Our news show helped to expose Russel Floan, a man who allegedly swindled millions from elderly women. We helped bring down the slum lords who owned Haster Gardens, one of the worst apartment complexes in Garden Grove.

We rival network coverage when a story breaks in Orange County. Whether it be shootings, bomb threats, protests, fires or homicides. I've seen and covered it all. I've been given the chance to be part of a community. I know the local politicans on the city, state and national level. And they know me. When we go out on location, the community recogonizes us. They know Channel 3. And at the end of the day, I leave the station feeling proud of the job my team and I have done.

"This Week In Garden Grove" has received numerous awards from NATOA, the National Association of Telecommunications Officers Advisors. From best news series to election coverage to best documentary. True we're not affiliated with one of the major networks, but that doesn't mean our show doesn't matter to our viewers. And we have quite a few of them.

About the Author

NATALIE TEJEDA was a participant of APTRA's very first Academy for aspiring journalists last year. She is a graduate of California State University at Fullerton. Natalie has just been hired by KYMA-TV in Yuma, Arizona; where she'll be reporting from the field. Congrats Natalie, and Good Luck - Another APTRA successs story!!!