Diana Gutiérrez Jumps From Market 96 to 3 as WCIU-The Jam’s Newest Morning Reporter

South Bend became Diana Gutiérrez’s home shortly after graduating from DePaul University when she became ABC 57- WBND’s general assignment multimedia journalist in 2016. For almost two years, Gutierrez presented visually rich and objective news pieces that gave a voice to Elkhart County’s diverse community.

And now, Gutiérrez, a bilingual journalist, announced her homecoming by becoming WCIU-The Jam’s newest morning reporter for their 6-8am morning weekday show.

“Coming back home is nothing short of a blessing. I am eager to bring our culture and our roots to viewers of The Jam,” said Gutiérrez. “I am counting on all my Latinx colleagues to make that leap, take that chance and give power to the voices that need it most. Let us not forget Latinos are not the minority anymore.”

Gutiérrez was born and raised in the Windy City. Her parents immigrated from Jalisco, Mexico at a tender age and settled on the southwest side of Chicago. Prior to starting at ABC 57, she was a programming intern at ABC 7 Chicago and an anchor/reporter for Good Day DePaul, the university’s award-winning news show.

“I’ve been in reporting in Michiana (Michigan/Indiana) for a little over a year and a half. Within that time, I have learned a lot about who I am as a journalist, as an anchor and as a community member keeping families informed. This market has shaped me into who am I today: A journalist working tirelessly in hopes of sharing the stories and voices of everyone, including Latinos,” she added.

Her passion for journalism sparked shortly after returning home from a study abroad program in Madrid, Spain, she said. It was there where she discovered and indulged in the rich cultures, conversations, and communities that neighboring countries have to offer.

Upon her return, Gutiérrez felt the need to showcase those communities and their voices. In South Bend, she was the only Spanish-speaking reporter for a while. That opened doors for her to connect with its Latino community and it allowed them to tell their unique stories.

“I know that after leaving this market, there’s a community of Latinx families waiting to be interviewed, waiting to have someone explain local news content and wanting stay in the know,” Gutiérrez added.

Gutiérrez will debut in her new position in Chicago’s TV news on April 16.

“Once upon a time I thought being on-air was just a dream, I thought landing a job was impossible and I thought Chicago was a long-shot. Patience, a bit of wine and 20 months later, I have accomplished just that,” she said. It doesn’t stop there though, let’s get more Latinos in news.”