Paul Cicala is happy to return to his Southwest Border roots, and has recently joined the Anchoring staff at ABC-7 (KVIA-TV)! After recently being nominated for an Emmy in Southern California, and winning an Edward R. Murrow Award (the most prestigious honor a TV Journalist can receive), Paul Cicala recently joined ABC-7 as a Sports Anchor/Reporter for the Top-Rated Newscast in the El Paso, TX/Juarez, Mexico/Las Cruces/New Mexico Tri-border area. Before, Cicala headed the TV Sports Department and was an Anchor for KESQ (ABC) News Channel 3 (and FOX 11 News at 10 p.m.) in Palm Springs, California. The award-winning Journalist was also a contributor for KUNA-TV Noticias TELEMUNDO, the local Spanish-language affiliate in the Palm Springs area of Riverside County. Cicala's first TV job was at FOX Sports in Los Angeles, while attending the University of Southern California (USC), where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He then produced for NBC Network News in Burbank for a year, where he had the chance to travel and cover stories all throughout the U.S. and Mexico.Before a brief return as a reporter in Arizona, Paul Cicala spent two years as a Sports Anchor/Reporter in Las Vegas, Nevada. In Las Vegas, Cicala had the chance to cover some of the biggest pro boxing matches in recent history, and he's excited about the opportunity to report on the recent flow of talented boxers coming out of the Coachella Valley and just south in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.Before Las Vegas, Cicala reported at KOLD-TV,the CBS affiliate in Tucson, Arizona, where he covered news and sports for 3 years. While in Arizona, (including a stint in Yuma, AZ / El Centro, CA), Cicala won numerous First Place AP awards for stories he did along the U.S.-Mexico border. However, Paul says his "true love", is athletics, and is happy to be focusing on Sports full time once again.Cicala says, "I originally got into broadcasting, to be a Sports Journalist, and I'm thrilled to be back in the desert, at News Channel 3 in HD (ABC)!"Cicala, a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), adds, "Sports has always been a part of my life, whether it be playing or watching. My biggest thrill as a sports journalist, is having the opportunity to tell the unique stories of high school and college athletes, and Southern California youngsters excelling in sports to thousands of people every night."Paul Cicala's endeavors in news have also landed him on national TV shows. In 2004, Cicala had the honor of being a guest on the Oprah Winfrey show (representing an "objective journalist" in an episode dealing with a story he covered about a high school guidance counselor who posed nude in an adult magazine).Cicala has had an equally active life outside of News, with experience as an English as a Second Language Teacher and as an Ambassador of Goodwill in Mexico. In August of 2000, Paul Cicala returned from a year-long fellowship in Southeast Mexico, where he took part in numerous service activities and goodwill projects, and also reported for, and produced a mini-doucumentary (in English and Spanish) on a program to build homes for the victims of a devastating mudslide in the "Sierra Norte" region of Puebla, Mexico.Cicala was heavily involved within the Latino community in Southern California, Las Vegas, and Southern Arizona, where he served as a teacher and mentor to at-risk youth, and is doing the same in Southern California. Cicala plans to do the same along the El Paso/Juarez border. The TV Journalist also fills in as a Guest Teacher.Cicala, a native of Southern Arizona, says being a teacher and mentor offers some of the same satisfactions as delivering the news, "What motivates me most as a journalist, is not just reporting for the community ... but, meeting and learning from those who watch our stories on TV ... and truly having the opportunity to contribute to, and become a part of the community ... not to mention a positive role model. Paul has also been the keynote speaker at a number of graduation ceremonies, and continues to make himself available to the youth of Southern Arizona and California."Cicala graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Southern California (USC). Paul Cicala was also voted "Outstanding Graduating Senior" by the USC Journalism Alumni Association when he attended the prestigious University in the late 1990's. In addition to covering USC and other Los Angeles-area sports teams, Cicala also attends a number of Trojan games as a "rowdy, die hard, 'straight loco' fanatic".With his "loco" allegiance for USC (and anything dealing with the Cicala's border-area roots of Southern Arizona and Tucson), it's no surprise Paul's D.J. name was "Solo Loco". Cicala began his broadcasting career as an On Air Personality and Radio D.J. While at USC, Paul hosted an award-winning Hip-Hop Show "The Loco Boyz with Solo Loco and Bobby Boy Malo". He was also a member of the "Flava Unit" for Power 106 F.M. in L.A., and promoted all throughout Los Angeles. In addition, Paul Cicala deejayed for "Hot 98 FM, La Caliente" in Tucson, Arizona. Cicala's wide array of musical tastes also landed him a job working a number of years directly for "Killer Oldies Icon" Art Laboe. Cicala worked alongside Art Laboe and handled dedications during the world acclaimed "ART LABOE KILLER OLDIE SHOW".When Paul's not Reporting Live for KESQ News Channel 3 (ABC), FOX 11 and KUNA Noticias TELEMUNDO, he can be found at local gyms working out or playing basketball. He also enjoys cultural activities, taking the quick drive to Mexicali for a day in Mexico, and volunteering with the community whenever possible.
Article title: TV ratings crown local champs
KESQ (ABC) News Channel 3 in HD Anchors (from left) Sports Director/Anchor Paul Cicala, News Anchors Tamara Damante and John White and Weather Forecaster Ginger Jeffries.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE SOME OF PAUL'S SPORTSCASTS AND IN-DEPTH REPORTS, JUST GO TO: ..
AND THEN CLICK "SPORTS" (Sportscasts as they aired will appear below, SO DON'T WAIT. GO TO WWW.KESQ.COM ).
This (BELOW) is the anchor team Cicala reports alongside of every night for KESQ (ABC) in the Palm Spring/Riverside County area.
(ABOVE PHOTO) And, -NO-, I'm not flexing or "striking a pose" above! I'm actually pointing at light house in the distance (behind me) in San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico.
(ABOVE) Paul Cicala Reporting at Pacific Life Open Tennis Tournament "5th Major" in Indian Wells, CA. Rafael Nadal won the tournament for first time (beating Novak Djokavic), after getting the positive "carma" from interview with Cicala. ;) LOL ;)
(ABOVE) Paul Cicala with friends and former news team at KOLD-TV (CBS) News 13 in Tucson, Arizona.--(BELOW) -A Dream Come True! I've always yearned to throw out the "first pitch" at a profesional baseball game, and I got to do -just that- at Spring Training in my hometown and former "reporter stomping grounds" of Tucson, Arizona.
R.I.P. Coach Moroyoqui: Like a Father to me, a Mentor, a Role Model, The Single Biggest Inspiration In My Life To Keep Me Out Of Trouble, Steer Me In the Right Direction, To Overcome Obstacles on Tucson's South Side and Succeed. Without The Influence of Coach Moroyoqui as a teacher, coach, father-figure and mentor, I would have never gone to college, became driven and dedicated to staying away from the "negative influences of the South Side" or experienced any success in life. REST IN PEACE, COACH MOROYOQUI ... WE ALL LOVE AND MISS YOU.
See link for more details on his life: http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/175668
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