FC launches first Spanish-language news site

   Fullerton College will celebrate the launch of La Antorcha, the college's new student-produced Spanish-language publication September 20.

   The online publication will cover on-campus events as well as local and international news concerning the Hispanic community.

   "We're not going to just cover local news, we want to cover any type of news that's of interest to the Hispanic Community," said La Antorcha's Editor In-Chief Andres Martinez.

   The campus will celebrate the launch of the publication on the quad from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 pm, and will be supported by FC clubs such as MEChA, Dream Team, Latina Leadership, Mexican American Engineering and Puente Project.

  Jarritos beverages will be available at the event as refreshments for students in attendance along with Super Estrella 107.1, who will also be giving away gifts and prizes. The event will also be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, which starts September 15^th and ends in Mid-October.

   La Antorcha consists of a staff of 24 students from Fullerton's Spanish Language Media class, lead by Martinez and Managing Editor Patricia Quintero.

   The idea for the newspaper was conceived by Jay Seidel, FC's communications department coordinator and faculty advisor for the Hornet. "This has been something we worked on for a few years now," said Seidel.

   "It took awhile to get the concept, and then find the best format. I'm proud of the students that have been with La Antorcha for the past semesters. They were creating for something that didn't exist, and at that point, an idea. But they did, and La Antorcha started to build."

   The new publication gives more opportunities to Hispanic students. Fullerton College is a Title V-Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), which means that the college receives grants to expand their academic offerings, educational programs, and institutional stability.

   If a school has a significant Hispanic Population, the school is eligible to receive these funds so it can create programs to enhance educational opportunities.

   The launching of the La Antorcha was also to give experience to students in the field of Hispanic media.

    According to a State of the Media report in 2011, Hispanic media has grown faster than Mainstream Media due to the increase of the nation's Latino population, and it is one of the youngest ethnic groups in America, whose median age is 27.

   Hispanic radio and magazine has also grown, with year-over-year growth in ad spending.

    Beginning in 2012, Fullerton College's Communications Department will offer a Spanish language media certificate.

   The program also works closely with the Spanish media program at Cal State Northridge to create transfer opportunities for students who want to continue their studies of Spanish media.

   Also, Univision, the largest Spanish-Language network, reports in a study that they are reaching audience sizes to compete with English-language broadcast networks such as ABC, CBS, and NBC.

   The creation of La Antorcha was based on the ever-changing demographic of Fullerton College and North Orange County.

   Fullerton College has expanded and is well represented by many diverse groups. Hispanics have grown from percent of the population to well over forty percent in the last six years.

   "There is such a large community in and around Orange County that we have been missing. It is an opportunity to expand the coverage, and with the online website, it can reach a global community," said Seidel.

   "Fullerton College has changed from a predominately white institution, it was become more of a pluralistic college, where you don't have a majority group," said Dr. Rajen Vurdien, president of Fullerton College.

   "It is important for the student body to understand that Fullerton College is not a college fixed in time, but a college that evolves …we cater to all communities and all groups as diverse as they are."

   The plan for La Antorcha, according to Martinez, is to expand the staff and keep informing the public about stories of interest. The staff is looking for section editors for next semester, as part of the journalism 274 Spanish language media course.

   As for stories, the editor invites anyone to share and discuss stories as well as publish them.

   La Antorcha will publish articles regularly on its website, fcantorcha.com.

   "I am very happy for our students and our journalism program. This is a student-driven publication. Our college provides support, and we are proud that our students have stepped and produced this paper," Vurdien said.

   "I'm really looking forward to the coverage that La Antorcha can produce and how this publication will grow in the future. It is such a great opportunity for the student at Fullerton College and for the school itself," said Seidel.