
News Director of the Year: Helga Silva, WSCV, Miami
Helga Silva has made WSCV Miami the premier news station in its market, which is no small accomplishment for a Spanish-language broadcaster. Since January, WSCV has been tops in Miami regardless of language for 11 consecutive months among adults 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, Monday to Friday at 5, 6 and 11 p.m.
VP of news and content Helga Silva has made Telemundo's WSCV a market leader regardless of language
Manuel Martinez, president of Telemundo Station Group, said WSCV was a frequent ratings winner for years, but under Silva's leadership, now it's every single newscast.
She just took it to the next level, he said.
Silva, VP of news and content, has established herself with more than 30 years of journalistic integrity, crossing print, radio and TV. Her TV news career blossomed after stints at Telemundo's WNJU and Univision's WXTV in New York.
She has worked hard to change the mindset at Telemundo 51 since arriving in 2011. It took easily two years to become the breaking-news machine we are today, where the reaction is automatic. It's what we do, Silva said.
More Local Heroes: Station Group of the Year | GM of the Year, Markets 1-25 | GM of the Year, Markets 26-50 | GM of the Year, Markets 51 | Multiplatform Broadcaster of the Year
Weather plays an integral part in Telemundo 51's coverage, so Silva made a commitment to people who have degrees in the field and are bilingual. For experienced meteorologists lacking TV experience, Silva trains them in an unofficial three- or four-month program before putting them on air.
We became the teaching station for meteorologists, Silva said.
It was Hurricane Dorian that put the full resources of Telemundo 51 and NBC sister WTVJ on display this year. Dorian hugged Florida's southern coast in early September. It was a very scary moment, Silva said.
Telemundo 51 anchors Daisy Ballmajo and Fausto Malave
Across 36 hours, WSCV sent reporters to more than a dozen locations. They had a presence from West Palm Beach to Orlando, and Cocoa Beach to Tampa-Fort Myers. Reporters also showed conditions in Mississippi and Puerto Rico.
WSCV didn't end its coverage when the storm pulled away. In the aftermath of the Bahamas' worst natural disaster, an anchor, reporter and photographer were dispatched to the islands for eight days to give viewers a first-hand look at the destruction.
Silva said Telemundo 51 separated itself from all the stations that did wall-to-wall coverage. The audience involvement with this station is a testament to the fact that we have built a serious station that you can't miss, Silva said. You have to watch our station if you want to be informed.
Eye on Immigration
The year 2019 has been a vital one for Telemundo, which has covered the gubernatorial upheaval in Puerto Rico and the immigration battle across the U.S.'s southern border, which has involved children stuck in detention centers in South Florida. Telemundo 51 covered the protests in Puerto Rico and the resignation of Gov. Ricardo Rossell . People were glued here, Silva said.
Reporter David Rodriguez on location in Puerto Rico.
A main reason for the popularity of Telemundo 51, Silva said, is the depth in today's viewers, who range from monolingual to bilingual, and something she calls the third generation, who grow up involved and listening to TV that speaks another language.
Silva is proud that WSCV is recognized as a legacy station for Spanish-speaking families. Her staff is modern and tech savvy, with reporters able to use mobile devices and go live without heavy-duty equipment. When there is a crisis, the household will turn to us, Silva boasted. That's our strength.
The station is always keeping a keen eye toward future story ideas. [Silva] has the ability to look ahead and plan accordingly, Martinez said.
Mentoring and molding young talent make Silva stand out. Her expert knowledge in the news business is tapped into by Telemundo stations across the country. A lot of people come in through Miami just so that she can use her wisdom with them, Martinez said.
WSCV and WTVJ work closely together, producing customized sound bites in both languages from newsmakers in Miami. Silva works closely with WTVJ news director Migdalia Figueroa.
We're able to combine two languages, two stations, to make the most of it, Silva said.
Before TV, Silva wrote about politics for the Miami Herald. She said her newspaper experience helps her every day.
That's the best training any reporter can ever get, Silva said. In the heart of hearts, I am a reporter.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Frequency, the engine powering many of the world's leading streaming television channels, today announced the launch of In-Scene Advertising, a new monetiza...
05/06/2026
Berklee Study Reveals Video Has Become Essential to Music Careers Survey findings show social platforms have become the primary source of music for video cont...
04/06/2026
Sony Electronics is introducing the SRG-AS10, a 4K 60p-compatible PTZ auto-frami...
04/06/2026
This recent grad from Spring, TX, led creative-video output for the Aggies' men's basketball team last season and has been producing video and creating ...
04/06/2026
For the first time at a women's golf major, every player in the field will r...
04/06/2026
Three Panasonic PT-RQ45 40,000-lumen 3-Chip DLP projectors made their first live...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin and Akamai have announced a collaboration with NRJ Group, a French mult...
04/06/2026
Telestream will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N7952), demonstrating media work...
04/06/2026
Sony has announced the development of RIALTO 65, a 65mm format image sensor block for the VENICE 2 digital cinema camera, targeting release in the first half of...
04/06/2026
KOKUSAI DENKI Electric America will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N8025, June ...
04/06/2026
Bell Media's TSN and RDS are the exclusive Canadian broadcasters of FIFA Wor...
04/06/2026
The Challenge: Receiving Heavy Media Files From Road Games Quickly and ReliablyT...
04/06/2026
MASV, a managed file transfer platform used in broadcast and live sports product...
04/06/2026
NESN has announced the appointment of Fahad Haider as Vice President of Operations and Engineering. Haider returns to NESN, where he previously served as Vice P...
04/06/2026
David J. Halberstam, who spent almost 50 years in sports as a broadcaster and an executive, died June 2 after a years-long battle with brain cancer.
Over his l...
04/06/2026
Although collegiate production programs are tasked with delivering high-quality ...
04/06/2026
California studio, two production trucks, global distribution system are combine...
04/06/2026
New global program empowers and supports storytellers through scriptwriting course and access to industry experts
TikTok and Sundance Institute today announce...
04/06/2026
Steinberg DAWs now boast in-depth Tonalic integration
Celemony's innovative virtual session musician plug-in has just received an update that brings ARA...
04/06/2026
Get Hands-On With Over 20 Mic Brands
GearExpo UK is fast approaching, and if you've been looking for a chance to check out some new mics, then you'r...
04/06/2026
Combos feature new Amplifier Intelligence engine
Positive Grid's latest release sees the company introduce two new combo amplifiers that promise to offe...
04/06/2026
Is Your Job Making You Work this June?
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Launches the World Cup Watchers' Rights Association to Stand Up For Australians&...
04/06/2026
Statement regarding unauthorised use of SBS logos on third party social content
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has become aware of social media posts in c...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin, a leading provider of video streaming infrastructure, and Akamai, the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business onli...
04/06/2026
American Underground (AU), the Startup Hub of the South and a community of mor...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
NVIDIA and Microsoft Reinvent Windows PCs for the Age of Personal AI
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
RTX Spark - a 1-Petaflop Superchip, the Full...
04/06/2026
Inside the Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Grade
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Simone Grattarola discusses shaping the look in DaVinci Resolve...
04/06/2026
Cine Gear Expo Announces 2026 Awards of Excellence Recipients
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Ed Lachman ASC, Caleb Deschanel ASC, and M. David M...