Today we’d like to introduce you to Claudia Gestro.
Claudia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I graduated from FIU with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After college, I did some modeling and was working in a Restaurant. After ten years working in the restaurant business and modeling, I decided to pursue my career. The restaurant I worked for always advertised their business on the radio. In one of those opportunities, I decided to look around and see what I could find, to try getting a job at the radio station. I saw an open door with a girl doing her makeup and getting ready to go on the air. She asked me what I was doing and I told her I was promoting the restaurant.
It was a new Sirius XM Espanol station and she invited me to her show to promote the restaurant. I met her producer Elizabeth and after I talked about the restaurant on the radio show, I asked her producer if I could come everyday and help them and learn. She said YES. I started helping them and learning. One day I asked the producer if we can have a Sports Show and she liked the idea so I started to cover my 1st sports team in LA “ Los Angeles Lakers”.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It was not smooth. The fact that I did some modeling in the past was a big issue and at times I felt I was not taken seriously. This has affected my chances to move up to a bigger stage.
After the radio station change the structure of the show, I had to look for another station to work for. And I did, but my role with the new station was to advertise the station (street team) and my reporter role was small. I was working all day; from 7am the street team job and in the afternoon covering the Dodgers. It was my 1st year covering baseball for this new station. A day before the postseason started I got fired and the woman who worked in the station stabbed in the back, making stories about not being allowed to cover the team. Automatically my credentials were removed, it was a difficult time. I felt like I lost everything. At that moment I learn a lesson about that side of the business.
At that moment I reached out to all the contacts I got from the MLB All-Star Game. I went in 2013 and talked to an international Station from Venezuela. With their political issues, most of their reporters couldn’t leave the country to report so they gave me the opportunity to work for them.
Their station aired through DirecTV. It was a transition from Radio to TV and a new adventure for me. I had to learn how to shoot video on my own, lighting, audio, etc. and I became what’s now called “the Multimedia reporter” I had to do it all.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with CG productions – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I am a freelance multimedia reporter. I work for different companies who need content for their businesses (online and TV stations). I shoot the breaking news, the updates, the interviews, the post games, etc. I have never given up and accomplished a lot since 2013. Covering the second best market in sports is a dream come true. Doing three different jobs at once is challenging but I love it.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
The goal is always to move up, if someone could give me a chance. Also, get more clients, not only in the U.S. but around the world. Getting more production equipment with better technology.
I can’t predict the future, but for sure I see myself in a bigger stage.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Claudiag_breal22
- Facebook: Claudia Gestro
- Twitter: Claudia Gestro
Image Credit:
Claudia Gestro
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
