Today we’d like to introduce you to Jose Luis Dieppa.
Hi Jose Luis, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Hola! I was born in Puerto Rico – La Isla Del Encanto- (the island of Enchantment). I always wanted to be a journalist. My mother and grandmother both worked in radio stations on the administrative side. I was always in the newsroom. We moved to Orlando, Florida when I was 14 years old. In high school, I was part of the yearbook staff. I went to Valencia College and started working at Univision Orlando – my real school. After Univision, I worked at Fox 35 and News 13 (now Spectrum News 13), and my last TV job was with NBC News in the Miami bureau. My last TV story was the Pulse nightclub shooting. After that tragic story, I decided to take a break from the news, and I had the opportunity to work with a former colleague in her public relations agency. I loved the PR side. I went back to school to study communications and public relations. Since then, I have worked in boutique agencies, and currently, I work for AdventHealth in the corporate communications department.
Since leaving the news industry, I have been able to give back to my community. In the last couple of years, I had the honor to be part of organizations like Come Out With Pride, One Orlando Alliance, and got involved in the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) Orlando Area Chapter. Now, I’m the President of FPRA Orlando.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life is full of challenges and struggles. I have learned that in any situation there is an opportunity to learn something. Yes, I have had many struggles, however, there is a solution for any situation. Honesty, responsibility, and compassion can fix anything.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
My role as a communications professional is to tell stories. One of the areas of public relations that I love the most is “media relations,” telling our story via the news media. We must first build relationships, find interesting stories that will result in earned media opportunities, and then amplify that message via other vehicles like, for example, social media, newsletter, and more.
I love that with my work we can create a positive impact in our community. I’m proud to lead a group of public relations professionals as president of FPRA Orlando. FPRA is dedicated to developing public relations practitioners who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Florida. FPRA is the nation’s oldest public relations organization.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Mentors are crucial for our development. I have several mentors. Actually, I have a board of directors. 4 people that I trust. They provide advice about life decisions. My “board of director” provides counsel, constructive feedback and guidance. I strongly suggest that everyone develops their own board of directors.
Contact Info:
- Website: FPRAOrlando.org
- Instagram: @JOSELUISDIEPPA
- Twitter: @JOSELUISDIEPPA
