This semester, broadcast journalism majors are making history with BYU-TV International's first all-Spanish newscast to air today.

Students began production of "Ventana al Mundo," or "Window to the World," in February. After being translated into Portuguese and English, the program will be broadcast on cable networks throughout Central and South America. The first of the weekly newscasts will air Friday at 2:30 MST.

"More than anything else, this is just a fun opportunity that BYU students haven't had before," said Tyson Plastow, a senior from Chandler, Ariz., one of two executive producers of the program. "It's a chance for us to delve a little more into the Latin American culture, and to learn how we can use those different aspects in reporting in our future careers."

Because of the translation delay, Ventana cannot cover time-sensitive news events. Instead, it focuses on broader issues and local talent. Each program includes feature stories, interviews with Hispanic personalities, a cooking segment and musical talent.

All talent in the show comes from Utah's Latino community, Plastow said.

The program was a challenge, in part, he said, because it had never been done before. Students have produced single Spanish newscasts within a semester, before, but they were never intended to air.

"Just the amount of effort it took to get it started was amazing," Plastow said. "We started from nothing."

The program is being filmed on the same set as the BYU Daily News.

Vivian Hernandez Quintela, a junior from Mexico City, co-anchors the newscast with Marco Villarreal. This is her first time anchoring a newscast, but she said the thought of her family back in Mexico keeps her calm.

"I just felt: This is in my native language," Quintela said. "I'm talking to my culture who are in need of knowing what's going on here. I just felt very comfortable."

Thomas Quiroz, translation supervisor for BYU-TV International, said he hopes the program not only informs, but also inspires those in Latin America to pursue a higher education.

"We are very excited about this program because it is an excellent showcase, not only for the church, but for BYU, and also the excellent job the students are doing," Quiroz said. "I think it is a win-win situation both for us and for them as students."

Copyright Brigham Young University 7 Mar 2008