Broadcasting Alumna Guides Us Through Traffic

“You have to give a lot, nothing is given to you,” says Broadcasting alumna Ines Rosales of her career in Broadcasting.

Rosales gave her all at her last job at Metro Traffic, where she was responsible for running cameras for channels 2, 5, 7, 11 and Univision.  Hard work paid off: at Metro Traffic, she was encouraged to go on the air.  She took the opportunity, and it got her where she is today, as the traffic reporter for Fox News.   “It’s a door that was opened for me,” and it changed her life

The 2004 grad originally had other things in mind.  “I wanted to be a director, I wanted to stay behind the cameras – that was my goal.”   As a student, someone else usually hosted her projects; she only hosted one show.  She finds reporting the news on air exciting and challenging; “it’s a lot more fun than I expected it to be.”

There is still a lot of behind the scenes work that she has to do, researching her stories  – “I stay on top of the Dept. of Transportation web sites” – and “trying to stay on top of a big news story.”  With a difficult traffic situation, where things can change minute by minute, “trying to predict what will happen is rough.”

She’s still working just as hard, or harder; she ‘s up at 1:30 AM to prepare for her morning report: “My job is not only about the traffic, it’s to greet the morning viewers and start their day.”

She doesn’t just report the traffic, but produces other informative stories: “Other stories broaden my horizons.”  She once produced a story on how to buy the right tires. The story is still available on the Fox website archives, and worth checking out.  She is also involved in fundraising efforts for AYUDA for the Arts, an organization that helps young students pursue their careers in the arts by providing scholarships and financial aid.

Not long ago, Rosales was a student herself.  How did Montclair State’s Broadcasting Department prepare her for her career?  “Most people would go into the business surprised at how rough it is,” she says, but, unlike most people, Ines was guided by “ideas that Montclair instilled in me – long hours, working on projects,” and, most of all, “be better, be better.”  It helped being in a small department with one-on-one faculty mentoring:  “Everybody knew everybody – David, Patty, Larry – they supported you in your career.” When she had a problem with a project, Thom Gencarelli devoted extra time to help her.  She found Television Production Company (TPC) a valuable class, and the work ethic and professionalism which is the hallmark of the department provided valuable discipline: “Go to class, be on time, they expect the best out of you.”

While she obviously doesn’t have much leisure time, when she gets time off she tries to go away with friends and family.  She isn’t always able to attend reunions, but she is close to a group of eight Broadcasting alumni who keep in touch, go to each other’s weddings, and try to get together at least once a year.   These grads once worked together in crews in their Broadcasting classes where “students always helped each other – it helped develop us in our careers.”   She has found this cooperative atmosphere at Fox; not only do they discuss ideas, they enjoy each other’s company.  “There on the show interacting with everyone – it’s really a family – we take care of each other.  Everyone’s nice, (we have) so much fun.”  The give and take of a busy academic department was replicated in the news room.

If she hadn’t taken that opportunity at Metro Traffic, where would Ines Rosales be today? She has this advice to give to students: “In order to be successful, just look for those open doors.”