Post by Aylin Karimova

During our visit to Houston Public Media, I had the amazing opportunity to interview Celeste Diaz Schurman (Producer & Host of Hello Houston) and Tom Magnarelli (Executive Producer). What stood out most was their dedication to educating and informing people, not persuading them, but making audiences to think critically and make their own judgments. Celeste shared that “a good journalist must first be a good listener,” reminding us that the most powerful stories often come from ordinary voices. We also talked about how one of their local programs "Hello Houston" connects the city through conversation bringing together local news, everyday stories, and community perspectives under one message: "Houston is always talking. Let’s talk together.” Learning from such passionate media professionals who value honesty, connection, and innovation was incredibly inspiring!