Vicky Waters, the new California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) press secretary, toured San Quentin.
Lt. S. Robinson, Public Information Officer, gave Waters a tour of the prison’s new Central Health Services Building, one of the general population units, Death Row and the media center.
“Her choosing San Quentin as the first prison to come shows this is where things are happening,” said Larry Schneider, staff and SQ Television Specialist. “We have the most programs and the media center. I’m looking forward to a positive working relationship.”
Waters has an extensive background in journalism that qualifies her for the position.
She has been the vice president of public affairs at Ogilvy Public Relations since 2015, and was the deputy director of public affairs at the California Department of Parks and Recreation from 2012 to 2015.
She was also the director of media relations at the California Charter Schools Association and an account executive at BPcubed Inc.
Prior to that, Waters was a freelance journalist, independent public relations consultant and translator. She also was the Sacramento correspondent at La Opinión newspaper.
“As a minority woman with her diverse background, I think she can also understand the prisoner side of the struggles,” said Charles David Henry, Journalism Guild Writer. “Her résumé shows she can be flexible.”
Waters also has a background in television.
She was an anchor, reporter and producer at Univision Sacramento and evening anchor, reporter and producer at Univision Corpus Christi. She worked as news editor and broadcast operator at WRAL-TV in Texas.
At the media center Waters met with the San Quentin News, SQ Television department and radio staffs. She said she was a regular reader of San Quentin News and was impressed with the quality of reporting.
“I feel privileged to be a part of a newspaper that draws the interest of someone in her position,” said Eddie Herena, SQ News photographer. “She is direct evidence that this is more than a prison newspaper.”
Arnulfo T. Garcia, SQ News Executive Editor, added, “I think her work at Univision will bring an understanding for the Hispanic community in CDCR. Her energy and having worked all aspects of the newsroom contributed to her appointment to CDCR.”
The visit to the San Quentin newsroom after being appointed press secretary showed us how dear and important journalism is to her life.
The SQ TV showed Waters various productions, starting with an introduction piece they did for San Quentin’s TEDx event last January.
“She seemed receptive of what we do here,” said E. “Phil” Phillips, SQ TV cameraman and video editor. “I don’t think she sees us just as inmates, but fellow journalists.
“The videos were to show we can be an asset to the outside community. We just need more people to get involved.”
She viewed two public service addresses, an anti-sex trafficking piece, and an admonishment against criminal behavior. She also saw a promotion video about an ecology program.
“It was productive,” said Antwan Williams, SQPR sound engineer and designer. “It allowed her to put a face with the titles. It gave her a chance to see people working for change.”
Earlonne Woods, SQ TV and radio producer, added, “When it comes to CDCR, you just see the names. So it was good for us to meet the person who would look over our work and might have questions.”
Waters indicated interest in returning to the prison in order to learn more about the stories inmates are working on. She said she was impressed and excited about the reporting San Quentin inmates are doing.
–Marcus Henderson and Juan Haines
