They Came to Toil by Dr. Melita M. Garza

Based in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, Dr. Melita Marie Garza is an associate professor of twentieth century journalism and history at the University of Illinois and the author of the book They Came to Toil. Dr. Melita M. Garza and her book have been profiled by Texas Public Radio, C-Span Book TV, and Think, a Dallas NPR affiliate program hosted by Krys Boyd.

They Came to Toil: Newspaper Representations of Mexicans and Immigrants in the Great Depression explores the Hoover administration’s attempts to preserve Anglo-American jobs, in part, by targeting and deporting Mexicans, including legal citizens of the United States.

Despite comprising just 1 percent of the nations population at the time, Mexicans accounted for nearly 50 percent of all deportations from 1930 through 1939. Nearly 500,000 individuals of Mexican descent were sent to Mexico as a part of this initiative, despite many having zero connection to the nation.

They Came to Toil presents readers with in-depth examinations of the Hoover administration’s impact on Mexicans and Mexican-Americans. Furthermore, author Melita Garza shows how news reporting at the time has framed a representation of Mexican immigration that persists to this day. They Came to Toil is available for order online.

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The Historical Journalism Study They Came to Toil

An associate professor at University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, Dr. Melita Marie Garza supports a specific academic focus on 20th century journalism. In addition to her other published scholarly writing, Dr. Melita M. Garza is the author of the 2018 book They Came to Toil: Newspaper Representations of Mexicans and Immigrants in the Great Depression.

They Came to Toil focuses on Depression-era San Antonio and the forced deportations of Mexicans and other immigrants by the Herbert Hoover administration. Between 1930 and 1939, this administration’s policies led to the deportations of roughly half a million people.

They Came to Toil compares and contrasts the ways that three different San Antonio newspapers covered this story. While the city’s Spanish-language paper (La Prensa) provided relatively complete and sympathetic coverage of those deported, its two English-language papers (San Antonio Express and San Antonio Light) vacillated between support and demonization in their depictions. Analyzing all of these papers, each chapter of They Came to Toil details roughly a year of reporting, starting in 1929 and ending in 1932/1933.

How to Become a Pro in Business Journalism

Dr. Melita Marie Garza studied at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, graduating with a master’s degree in business administration in 2007. She later completed her journalism and mass communication doctorate at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2012. Before becoming an associate professor and the Tom and June Netzel Sleeman Scholar in Business Journalism at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Dr. Melita Garza was a writer at Bloomberg and the Chicago Tribune. At the university, Dr. Melita M. Garza teaches media history and business journalism.

Business journalism is a field that requires skills in research, writing, and interpersonal relations. It involves the ability to master details of wide-ranging beats from retail to energy, to banking and technology, among others. To become a successful business journalist, you must be persistent, determined, and unafraid to plow into an area of reporting that many others shy from. Here are some steps you can take to become a pro in business journalism:

First, it is essential to have strong research skills to write groundbreaking, accurate articles about business. Digging into corporate documents and public records can seem tedious, but it is vital to uncover stories and facts that less diligent journalists have overlooked. Doing so will provide fresh insights into your topic, resulting in hard-hitting stories or commentaries that will help establish your reputation as a proficient business journalist. Secondly, hone your interview technique. Sometimes the only way to uncover crucial information about a particular story is to conduct an effective interview with someone close to the subject matter. There could be both internal and external sources for the story.

Thirdly, find an experienced mentor to guide you through the ever-changing landscape of business reporting. Working alongside an established professional in this field will give you invaluable advice on finding sources and stories and how best to approach each challenge head-on with confidence and knowledge. Finally, don’t forget networking. Join the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW), where you can exchange ideas with fellow journalists, receive free training, and explore job opportunities at SABEW conferences. SABEW Best in the Business (BIB) competition winner Dr. Melita M. Garza volunteers as a judge in this annual business writing contest, and continues to network with business journalists.

The Benefits of Doing a 30-Minute Zumba Session Each Day

Dr. Melita M. Garza is an associate professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s College of Media, where she teaches journalism history, business journalism, and media ethics. Thanks to her expertise in Hispanic and Mexican American Studies, she is becoming more in demand as a commentator and panelist for Latino-themed events. Dr. Melita Garza enjoys Zumba, playing golf, and traveling during her free time.

Doing a 30-minute Zumba session every day has many benefits. It’s an intense workout combining dance, aerobics, and fitness elements. You don’t need any special equipment to do it either, just some comfortable clothes and your favorite music.

The intensity and fun of Zumba make it the perfect full-body workout. It helps increase your heart rate and tones your muscles during your grove. You’ll also build up your endurance because you’re constantly moving. This means you can push yourself physically without getting bored or feeling overwhelmed.

You can expect to burn around 300-400 calories in a typical Zumba session. So if you love to dance but also want to lose weight, this is an ideal way to stay fit. You can maximize the benefits of your existing routines by regularly challenging your body with new exercises.

Another great benefit of a daily Zumba session is its effect on your blood pressure levels. Engaging in moderate physical activity like Zumba can naturally lower blood pressure, helping keep your heart healthy.

Doing a daily 30-minute Zumba session provides fantastic physical and mental benefits. From burning calories quickly to improving your blood pressure levels, there are many reasons why regular Zumba sessions could be good for you.