Fox representative Ruben Dominguez, visits TxSU

Ruben Dominguez, a Texas Southern University alumni, and now a Fox 26 news correspondent visits Professor Sandifer-Walker’s class in hopes to inspire a few students.

Entering the classroom, one’s attention is immediately drawn to the tall man in a blue shirt and tortoise shell glasses. He looks around expectantly at the students coming in the classroom before looking back at his hull of equipment to make sure everything is in place. The man can be easily recognized as a journalist. His sharp eyes peep out from shortly cropped white and black peppered hair and his hands hold a small note pad along with a marker. This man whose presence takes up the whole room later introduces himself as Ruben Dominguez. An assignment and guest planner for FOX 26 Morning News, Mr. Dominguez also serves as a feature and entertainment reporter for FOX 26, including reporting live on coverage and reviews of American Idol. Along with these accomplishments, Mr. Dominguez also has under his belt a “behind-the-scenes” duty, fulfilling many on-air duties on FOX 26 News. He also, for ten months, co-hosted a web show called “MyFoxHoustonLive” with FOX 26's Doug Delony; the show also featured Miss Texas Nicole O'Brian.

Mr. Dominguez jumps right into conversation once class gets started. He starts his lecture by quizzing the students on the several things it takes to be a part of the ever evolving news world. Most of the class gets about 6 out of the 10 questions. From this he goes on to shows us his equipment. A large I pad with an extra pair of lenses attached to the camera, and a large microphone sitting on top of it. He presses play and immediately a video interview of randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest begins to play. He then takes the time to share with us about his experience in the news room. His advice is to change with the times. He describes the ever growing digital era of news, and explains how digital media is now becoming a new way to reach out to people. He depicts the cellphone as a “second screen” and explains how the use of phones is creating a scramble for ratings. While at the same time advising the students to be keep up with the evolution. He then proceeds to tell us to keep an open mind, which by his experience can help one grow as a journalist.This leads him to explain the list of rules he had so hurriedly scribbled on a piece of paper earlier. He identifies these as the must haves for any future journalist. The piece of paper he shows the class reveals 3 bullet points with writing by each, written in clean script are the words:” Attitude”, “Hustle”, and the phrase “Never stop learning” he admits to students that to be in the business, one must be willing to get down and dirty, stating things might not always be easy but the story will be worth it. He takes time to put an emphasis on attitude, stating how a good attitude can take you anywhere. He portrays hustle as a necessary means of doing what needs to be done. And lastly goes on to let the last bullet explain itself. Never stop learning, is what he has been living by all his life and is what he encourages the students to live by as well.