Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Espinosa
Hi Carlos, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Carlos Espinosa. I’m a husband of 26 years, a father of three (ages 23, 20, and 17), and the Associate Director of Public Relations and Community Impact at WOW MKTG in Coral Gables. I’m also a three-time Emmy Award-winner and a former TV news editorial manager.
After almost 30 years in TV news—25 of them at Univision 23 in Miami—I made a career shift into public relations in 2022. It wasn’t an easy transition. Starting fresh at midlife after doing something for so long was challenging. But stepping out of my comfort zone has reinvigorated me and given me a fresh passion in all aspects of my life. My experience and connections in the media world have also helped me excel in my current role, where I organize, plan, and secure media coverage for clients. I specialize in crafting messaging strategies, curating media lists, writing media advisories and press releases, and building strong relationships with the media.
During my time in TV news, I spent eight years as Managing Editor at Noticias 23/Univision Miami, where I oversaw all editorial content for the newscasts. I made decisions about which stories were covered and what angles we took, while also adjusting coverage as the day unfolded. I led the station’s sweeps coverage, investigations, hurricane planning, breaking news, and managed a staff of more than 60.
One of my greatest strengths is my ability to connect with people. Guided by faith, I believe in treating others the way I want to be treated—with fairness and encouragement—which has contributed to my success as a leader. Fostering a supportive environment is important to me, and I strive to motivate my teams by setting an example I would want to follow.
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?
Nothing worth doing comes easy or smoothly. While some people may have a natural aptitude for certain things, for most of us, it takes hard work, repetition, and learning from failure to improve. I’ve found that it’s a process of doing something over and over until you refine it as best you can.
For me, it took years to truly learn the art of effective storytelling. In news, you have to tell human stories—ones that captivate and move people. That wasn’t easy at first. I had to learn how to put myself into the story, to see it from the perspective of those living it, and convey that experience in a way that resonated with viewers. One story that stands out was about parents who lost their teenage son in a school stabbing—at the hands of his best friend. They were devastated, but the story wasn’t just about their loss; it was about their faith, strength, and resilience. At the trial, they forgave the killer. Telling their story from their perspective was incredibly moving.
Today, I apply those same principles in my work in public relations. I’m crafting clients’ stories—figuring out what message they want to share and how to evoke an emotional response from their audience. It’s about understanding the heart of the story and making sure it resonates. In that way, the work I did in news and what I do now go hand in hand.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
From my long career in journalism, my specialty is storytelling—crafting messages that move people. I focus on taking a story and simplifying it to its core. What is this story about? What do I want to convey? How will it resonate with the audience? Whether it’s telling a news story, writing a press release, or creating a public relations campaign, the approach is the same. I always ask myself: what compelling aspect can I highlight that would attract me as a former media manager?
The fun part of my job is telling these stories. I write press releases and media advisories for press conferences and events, and help organize them as well. Messaging is essential, but creating a media list and knowing who to invite are also a key to success. I’ve had great success with local media because I understand what piques their interest. After sending out the advisory, it’s all about follow-up—reminding them about the event, ensuring they’re aware, and addressing any questions they may have to encourage attendance.
In addition to telling our clients’ stories, I also promote our company’s story, placing our leadership in key media outlets. These are the two things I’m most proud of in my new career: organizing several successful press events that have garnered strong coverage, and securing multiple media placements for our WOW MKTG Founder and President.
What sets me apart? My experience with the media. Many public relations professionals have great skills they learned in school, and that’s admirable. But I bring lived experience from the newsroom and an understanding of the news mentality from the inside out. Coming from a news background, I’ve developed a tenacity to keep trying different approaches, even when it feels like I’m being ignored. That persistence, combined with my firsthand knowledge of what newsrooms need, helps me connect with media in a way that few can.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned in both my career and life is that I am not an island—I can’t do anything by myself. Faith plays a huge role in my life, and so does my experience with team sports. From an early age, I was involved in team sports, particularly baseball, which I played throughout my childhood and well into my 40s in a men’s league. Believe it or not, the lessons of winning and losing as a team have shaped every aspect of my life.
One of the reasons I encouraged my son to play baseball and my daughters to join competitive dance teams was because of the value of learning teamwork. I’ve encountered many people throughout my career who weren’t team players, and it’s often evident in how they interact with others—whether they lift others up or hold them back to be the hero.
Team sports taught me leadership and humility. No matter how well I perform individually, if the team loses, we all lose. And no matter how poorly I perform, if the team wins, we all win. That sense of shared responsibility and collective success has guided me in everything I do, both personally and professionally.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wowmktg.com/
