Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Yensi.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in the Bronx, NY. Since I was very young, I was always fascinated by pictures, video, television etc. I remember that in 3rd grade there was a textbook on different careers. For some odd reason, I read one of the descriptions before peeking at the title. It said something asking questions, writing and being on television. I said “that’s it!” That’s what I want do do when I grow up. The job title was Television News Reporter.
I read so many books and writing was also a passion of mine and I knew that I needed to be a strong writer to work in News. I also was fascinated by the inner workings of government and political power. I graduated with a degree in English, and a minor in political science.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There weren’t many women that looked like me on television and definitely no one with a Bronx/Latina accent on the news, but I did not let that deter me. I was determined but family’s financial situation was tough, so I went to work.
I worked all through college in telemarketing and customer service, in order to pay for my books etc. I remember having to go to school fulltime, work fulltime and commuting via public transportation for hours each day.
Even after graduating I couldn’t land a job in TV right away, because I didn’t have enough internship experience or connections,
I pursued other jobs in telecommunications, until one day I decided to give my dream another shot. I went to graduate school for journalism, and this time decided do as many internships as possible and make connections. That’s what got my foot in the door to my first television stations Univision and shortly after News 12 in the Bronx.
I continued to work as a television reporter including a stop in Baltimore, before working again in my hometown of New York City. At a few of these jobs I worked as a multimedia reporter, which meant I had to film and edit the stories myself. I would put those skills to use on my time off as well. Anytime that I would explore a new restaurant or try a new activity, I would document it…mostly for my eyes only or to share with friends. The news industry is quite demanding, there’s no such thing as an off-time in news. Add to that the boom of Social media which began competing with traditional outlets for the attention of viewers, putting more pressure on journalists to pump out more content, faster and constantly. When I became a mother I got a new perspective on the value of time, how quickly it goes and how important it is to spend it with people you love and doing things you love. Local News had changed so much from when I first started, that it was no longer enjoyable. About 3 years ago, I made the decision to pivot into the field of communications, public/media relations. A lot of my journalism skills lend themselves rather nicely to this field.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
With a better work-life balance, came time for fun adventures. My son and I explore my immediate area, go on daytrips and travel. I kept my hobby of documenting our trips and began sharing them on social media. I love where I am in life now. I get to work in media, but in my own way and on my own terms. I love showing others the world from my point of view. It’s great to explore and change the scenery, and I’m not just referring to the outside world. It starts with me. What I am most proud of is that I am not afraid of change, even when I’m afraid. I keep going. I think what sets me apart is that unlike other content creators, I come from a structured and established television background. That has been a big influence in my video editing. I don’t care as much about “popularity.” I just enjoy telling stories and it shows.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I appreciate anyone who interacts with my posts and content online–the usual like, comment and subscribe. I hope it encourages other people, especially women, mothers, to go out there and live! My goal is to build a community online, who knows it may turn into some amazing group trips or other endeavors in the future.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.youtube.com/@AmyAllAround
- Instagram: @Amy_All_Around, @AmyOnTV
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyyensi/
- Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/amyyensi/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmyAllAround
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/@AmyYensi
