Veteran journalist Vicente Calderon recently discussed his four-decade caareer spanning radio, television, and digital media with KPBS Midday Edition host Jade Hindman. Calderon, who transitioned from psychology to news in the mid-1980s, highlighted his journey from a Mexican country music DJ to the editor in chief of Tijuana Press.
The 1980s transition from psychology to Mexican radio
Calderon's entry into the news industry was an unplanned pivot from his academic background in psychology. As reported by KPBS Midday Edition, Calderon originally intended to use media as a platform to discuss mental health, a topic that remained largely taboo during the 1980s.
His professional journey began not in a newsroom, but as a DJ at a local Mexican country music station. This role provided a rare entry point for young professionals into the news sector, eventually allowing him to move from music programming into newscasts and, ultimately, television reporting.
Comparing Telemundo's Los Angeles resources to Tijuana's media
The professional landscape for broadcasters varied significantly between major US markets and the Tijuana media scene. During his time in Los Angeles, Calderon worked for Telemundo, which he described as being in a "bigger league" due to the vast resources available in the premier Spanish-language market of the United States.
According to the interview with host Jade Hindman, Calderon noted a stark disparity in resources between his American colleagues and his peers in Mexico. While he learned the craft of television through empirical experience rather than formal training, he had to adapt his writing style from traditional newspaper formats to the rapid, image-driven requirements of San Diego and Los Angeles television.
The 2004 launch of Tijuana Press as a digital-only portal
In 2004 , Calderon sought to bypass traditional media constraints by founding Tijuana Press, the first digital-only news portal serving the Tijuana-San Diego region. This move was a strategic response to the historical dominance of state-controlled media in Mexico.
By leveraging internet technology, Calderon aimed to implement international ethical principles in a region where government influence on media outlets has historically remained strong. As the editor in chief, he continues to use the digital platform to advocate for journalistic independence and to highlight the risks faced by reporters in the region.
The specific nature of current threats to Mexican journalists
The current safety of the press in Mexico remains a central, yet partially unquantified, concern for Calderon. While he is a vocal advocate who brings annual awareness to violence against journalists, the interview does not specify the exact legislative or political mechanisms currently used by the government to exert influence. Additionally, the report does not detail the specific types of physical or legal threats currently facing reporters in the Tijuana-San Diego border zone, leaving the precise scale of the danger unaddressed.
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