By Sara Niklas
Junior, Mass Communication

The Department of Communication will be premiering the first ever Spanish language video newsmagazine in the Lafayette area.

Purdue video production faculty and colleagues from various departments will be working together to launch the show "Fast Track te Informa."  The Latino Cultural Center at Purdue and the Latino Coalition of Lafayette will also be involved with the project.  In addition to these groups, Purdue Communication graduate Daniella Frezza will be anchoring the show.

Various groups in the Purdue and Lafayette community will be contributing to "Fast Track te Informa."  Students from Purdue, Ivy Tech, Jefferson High School, West Lafayette High School, and Spanish Translation will all be involved.  They will be taught how to work video equipment, along with other skills needed to produce a news program.

"Fast Track te Informa" will be completely different from the original English version of "Fast Track."  "Fast Track te Informa" will be culturally themed.  Latin and international news will be fed through a contract with CNN. 

Patricia Rochon, a video production faculty member, said that this project is something that had been on her mind for a long time, and she is very excited to launch the show.  She believes that "Fast Track te Informa" will be a big help to native Spanish speakers who need information to plan their daily lives but are still in the process of learning English as their second language.

"I think it will bring opportunities for Purdue to engage the community," she said.  "It will help our students be involved with the community around them."

Each local story on "Fast Track te Informa" will include English subtitles to promote learning.  The entire program will be in Spanish.

Volunteer public relations assistants and production crew members were recruited at a March meeting. The first preview screening was scheduled for April 23 in Beering Hall.  There will be 10 new shows throughout the fall 2008 semester.  "Fast Track te Informa" will air on Comcast channel 5 and Boiler TV.

"I'm really excited. The College of Liberal Arts has given us a big start by giving us equipment," said Rochon.