Journalism Student a final competitor in KTLA 'Audition' Competition
By: Michael Garcia

Camaron Abundes, a Cal State Fullerton broadcast journalism student, is one of the final contestants in KTLA's collegiate version of "The Audition."

The competition began with 16 competitors, all of whom were striving toward the $25,000 prize. Abundes first heard about the audition two months ago when she saw a flyer about the contest at the KTLA news station where she interns. She sent an audition tape and received a call back within the next week for a live audition at the station that occurred in late September.

KTLA gave each contestant a script, which they later used to create their own newscast. The first newscast consisted of weather and sports. Last Friday the competition was cut down to eight students. This Friday, the competition will be cut in half again, to four, Abundes said.

Abundes had to improvise a great deal during the first audition. The experience was a bit nerve-racking and she did not think she did well. She felt confident at first, but then lost herself in the middle of the competition. She rated five or six out of ten during the first audition, Abundes said.

"I stuttered. I started out confident, and then I totally lost it," Abundes said. "Then at the end, I tried to pull it back together."

She was surprised she even made the first cut.

"I am really shocked that I made it," Abundes said. "They asked me before 'what do you think your chances are?' and there was 16 and they were cutting to eight, and I told them my chances were 50-50 because they were."

This opportunity has been a lifelong dream for Abundes.

"Literally, I have wanted to be a reporter since the fourth grade. When I was in the fourth grade we produced a newscast and I was the anchor, and that is when I said, 'this is want I want to do,'" Abundes said.

Fellow classmate Melissa Valbuena thinks Abundes will do well in the competition.

"She is very familiar with what she is speaking about," Valbuena said. "Her personality shows through when she is on camera. She works very hard to be good at broadcast journalism."

Classmate Elia Trujillo said that Abundes' voice sounds very professional and she is upbeat and passionate about what she does.

"She excels at a different level than everyone else," Trujillo said.

Classmate Ashley White said she was really amazed when she first saw Abundes on CSUF's student-run television show, EdgeTV, in Fall 2005.

"She really impressed me with the way she carried herself and the way she sounded," White said.

Broadcast journalism professor Beth Evans said that Abundes is a creative and excellent writer.

"She is fabulous. She is well suited for the world of broadcast journalism," Evans said.

Evans was impressed with Abundes' coverage of the "Run for a Cure" event in Newport Beach. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research.

Evans said Abundes' writing and research went above and beyond what the assignment called for and the piece was excellent.

YOU CAN VOTE FOR HER HERE.

Source: Dailytitan.com