In progress …

Latin Beat Magazine, Dec, 2002 by Haydee Vicedo

Cecilia Bogran
Entertainment/General Assignment Reporter
Public Affairs Producer
KMEX-TV 34/UNIVISION

Quick Facts:

Name: Cecilia Bogran

Birthplace: Philadelphia, PA, of Honduran ancestry

* A Board Member for the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN)

* Received the C. Everett Koop M.D. Media Award for Best Spanish-language PSA for KMEX's breast cancer campaign in 1999

* Has been happily married to Miguel Rueda for seven years

For more information on Cecilia Bogran and/or her current projects, email: cbogran@univision.net

For more information on KMEX-TV/Univision, contact their Marketing/Promotions Manager, email: crojas@univision.net

It's a rare treat to be able to sneak a peek into the life of Latinas making a mark in the entertainment industry. Their different journeys allow for more than an interesting story because a learning experience usually emerges. What did they do differently? Who inspired them? How can we all do the same? Our offerings via In Progress allow some of these questions to be answered. It is especially engaging when the subject matter is used to being the one who asks all the questions, as this month's celebrated woman regularly does. Widely seen in numerous homes as one of KMEX-TV's on-air personalities, we're getting a chance to go behind the scenes with Cecilia Bogran.

Of Honduran descent, Cecilia was actually born in Philadelphia, PA, but grew up in the beautiful city of Puerto Cortes with a family of five sisters and one brother. She decided to go back and forth between the United States and Honduras to pursue her secondary education and her love of acting. Bogran studied Communications at the Autonomous University of Honduras, completed her Bachelor's Degree in, Theater Arts from the University of the South in Tennessee and studied acting at the Lee Strassburg Theatre Institute in New York. In 1995, she moved to Los Angeles and earned a position with the Consulate of Honduras, handling press relations, while also performing in numerous theatre works and student films. After three years and a new consulate officer coming into term, Bogran found herself at a crossroads. She was without a job and wondering if she wanted to pursue acting, the one thing she had dreamed of doing. In trying to figure out which direction to take next, she was determined that whatever she decided on, she would have to be passionate about it and financially stable. Thus, she made the tough choice of leaving acting behind and braced herself for a new journey.

A long time fan of Univisión, its programs and the network's role in the Spanish-speaking population, Bogran decided that her new goal was to work with them. Willing to take on any opportunity she was offered, she started with a one-week temporary assignment for the network's flagship station, KMEX-TV, coordinating audience members for their live morning show. In that one week, knowing it was her chance to shine, she did more than her duties asked for, and was invited back to do more fill-in work for the station. Through perseverance and hard work, she moved on to become the booking coordinator for the morning show and eventually a segment producer for the morning news telecast (Noticias 34: Primera Edición). Armed with the expertise of how to create a show behind the scenes, she decided to pursue another dream--to be in front of the camera. Bogran quickly took action, enrolling in and finishing a UCLA Extension Journalist Program. With a finished demo from the class, Cecilia presented her idea to the station, who quickly agreed to give her a chance in front of the camera - in a smaller market outside Los Angeles. Her sights set on staying at KMEX; she prevailed, and made her on-camera debut for the station with the 2001 Rose Parade coverage. She has since covered a variety of news stories, from last year's tragic earthquake in El Salvador to attending this year's Academy Awards. Bogran can currently be seen every weekday on the morning newscast presenting community and entertainment segments; she also continues her role as producer.

What did Cecilia Bogran do differently to get where she is today? In her own words, the secret to finding success could be as simple as: "Tapping into what makes you happy, figuring out what you are passionate about and studying and preparing yourself to get paid doing exactly that." KMEX viewers witness Cecilia practicing what she preaches every morning. She set her sights on what she wanted and is now having a wonderful time both in front of and behind the camera.