20 Under 40 - 2003 Profile: Olivia Reyes Garcia

PRESSTIME

By Presstime Magazine

First Published: December 2003

Olivia Reyes Garcia has been in the bilingual communication business since age 5. That's when she learned Spanish so she could talk with her grandparents, translating everything from the mail to doctors' orders. Today, Garcia, a third generation Mexican American, again acts as interpreter. Only this time, she's doing it as editor of El Californiano, a weekly 30,000 circulation bilingual newspaper launched in April by The Bakersfield Californian.

"We're inclusive," Garcia says. "Anybody can pick up the paper and read it, whether they speak Spanish or English. It's a good way to bridge the gap. If my grandparents were alive, they'd be really proud."

Born and raised in Bakersfield, Garcia's relationship with the Californian goes back to high school, when she wrote for the daily's teen section. Today, she oversees a full-time staff of two, as well as a stable of freelancers. Logan Molen, managing editor of the Californian, credits Garcia with making the vibrant weekly a "reader and advertising success from the start."

Garcia, who received scholarships during college, says she likes to give back to the community.

In addition to teaching a journalism class at Bakersfield College two days a week, she's vice president of the Central Valley chapter of the California Chicano News Media Association, and sits on the board of the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Garcia regularly promotes El Californiano at community events, and on television and radio.

Education: 1993, A.A., journalism and Spanish, Bakersfield College, Bakersfield, Calif.; 1995, B.A., mass communications and journalism, and Chicano studies, Fresno State College, Fresno, Calif.
Career: 1994-95, intern, Fresno Bee; 1996-1997, reporter, Riverside (Calif.) Press-Enterprise; 1998-2003, reporter, The Bakersfield Californian; 2003-present, editor, El Californiano.
Personal: Age, 31. Born, Bakersfield, Calif. Married, husband Julio, two sons.
Diversions: Jogging, watching movies, spending time with the family at home and shopping, especially for shoes.
Connections: El Californiano, 1707 Eye St., P.O. Box 440, Bakersfield, Calif. 93302, (661) 395-7500, ogarcia@bakersfield.com.
Photos by Alex Horvath/The Bakersfield Californian