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News and features related to the College of Communication Arts & Sciences at Michigan State University

New WKAR producer Valadez screens PBS documentary The Chicano Wave

PBS
Carlos Santana

WKAR TV producer John J. Valadez is a Peabody award-winning filmmaker who has written, directed and produced many nationally broadcast documentary films. He speaks with WKAR's Brooke Allen about the film "The Chicano Wave" and its inspiration.

In 2009 John J. Valadez wrote, directed and produced The Chicano Wave. The film is a history of Mexican American music which aired nationally on the PBS series Latin Music USA. The documentary returns to PBS nationwide in May, and there is a special preview screening of the film at WKAR tonight (April 13) at 7:00.

Valadez recently joined WKAR as a TV producer, charged with developing additional programs intended for the prime-time national schedule. In addition to his role with WKAR, Valadez will teach documentary filmmaking through joint appointments as professor of practice with the Department of Media and Information and the Film Studies Program at MSU.

Brooke Allen served as local producer and host for Morning Edition, from June 2016-March 2018.
Karel Vega served as radio news managing editor at WKAR from 2020 to 2023.
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