Pepe Baez: The Broadcaster of San Miguel de Allende

By Carola Rico   

On September 14, Mexico celebrates National Broadcaster’s Day. These professionals use their voices to inform or entertain people on any topic. In the sixties, according to history, then-President Adolfo López Mateos instituted the day to recognize those working in the field. In San Miguel de Allende one of the best-known microphone journalists is undoubtedly Pepe Baez. I believe Pepe is a man of the people. When I called him to talk about his experience, he did not hesitate for a second to give us this exclusive for Atención, San Miguel’s newspaper.

Pepe Baez arrived in San Miguel de Allende 39 years ago, when he was very young. The family moved here because his parents liked Guanajuato very much. Pepe mentions that San Miguel has given him a lot; not only best friends and his current family but also his profession. Pepe says he became a newscaster by chance. When he was very young, his father became ill with leukemia, which forced him to look for a job in order to earn money to pay for the medical treatment. He started working in the socials section of a newspaper called «La Voz» de San Miguel. Later he worked in «Expresiones» de San Miguel where he took his first steps in journalism. Then he ventured into Channel 3 with Ricardo Trejo–taking what Jesús Ledesma and Lolita Vidargas’ wrote in the newspaper to present on television. Pepe remembers his time at Channel 3, which left him with a good taste in his mouth, as a great experience. What began as a small social section became a successful program that lasted ten years on the air. It started as a half hour program that eventually increased to two. Later, “Noticable” news on TVC Noticias, invited him to join. With Dora Guzmán, at EXA, he did the sports section for two years. This was his first professional connection to the radio.  

Exactly 14 years ago, he left Channel 3 and knocked on the door of Grupo Imagen, which, says Pepe Baez, has been the best decision of his life. Pepe’s success as a broadcaster for Grupo Imagen was undoubtedly his local identity which established the station’s presence in Guanajuato. In this company, Pepe started doing «De Frente» on Saturdays. Two months after seeing the success of this pilot, they invited him to do «Imagen Informativa Bajío».

Pepe says that being a radio broadcaster is the most rewarding experience of his life, and he would do it again. He says that radio is magical and fascinating because you are yourself; it doesn’t matter how you dress or do your hair. Imagination is what is important. The communicator has the responsibility to make people envision what is happening or what he says by the tone of voice. He has enjoyed remarkable situations. Throughout this time, Baez says he has been blessed in this profession. He has met many people and has had hundreds of positive experiences. «The public’s affection is one of my greatest satisfactions because feeling loved is the most beautiful thing,» says Pepe Baez.