Genevieve Fernadez: A People Person

Celebrities, politicians, and pop stars are all in a day’s work for NYU alum Genevieve Fernandez. As deputy managing editor of People en Espanol, Fernandez brings the entertainment buzz of the Hispanic community to its audience of more than 35 million people.

“The biggest perk about my job is that no two days are alike,” Fernandez said of her recently promotion job from entertainment editor. With the details of setting up cover shoots, arranging interviews, and most recently, organizing a party for their 25 Most Beautiful People issue, Fernandez works mostly on the marketing side. “I serve as a filter between publicists and my editor.”

While meeting and interviewing Hispanic superstars may be enough to lure any reporter, Fernandez admits, “I’m not star struck anymore.”

Fernandez has actually become somewhat of a television star herself. She has participated in television interviews on behalf of People en Espanol, a task she is more than willing to do. “I thought I’d never want to do television,” said Fernandez. “And now I love it.”

Appearing on channels like MTV and VH1 is only one of the many perks Fernandez loves about her job. “I’ve met interesting people—celebrities and politicians—that I never would have met in my daily life,” she said.

When she graduated from New York University in 1994 with a double major in journalism and mass communication and history, Fernandez accepted a job at Money magazine, another Time Inc. publication. As a junior reporter she mostly sat at the reception desk, researched, and fact checked as part of a year-long training program. When she reached the one-year deadline, Fernandez decided to stay.

In fact, she stayed at Money for more than two years altogether. Because she worked at a Time Inc. publication, she was encouraged to participate in the launch of its new magazine, People en Espanol, in late 1996. Fernandez, who grew up in a bilingual home, jumped at the chance. “Finances and personal investment were never my thing,” she said.

Fernandez seems to have found her passion at People en Espanol, a far cry from her harrowing internship experience at MTV during her senior year. After spending her internship days photocopying and answering phones, Fernandez relishes in the fun, easygoing work environment at People en Espanol. “This is a great place to work,” she said. “We’re all one big family.”

—Sharon Tannebaum, G’03