Photo by Lar Yang | Yang Design.
Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado is the news director for KVPR Valley Public Radio. He grew up in the San Joaquin Valley he now covers, and previously reported the news for the Fresno Bee and PBS NewsHour. Before moderating the Zócalo event “What Is a Good Job Now? In Health Care?”—presented in partnership with The James Irvine Foundation—he chatted in the green room about Fresno tacos, birthdays, and the best story he ever covered.
If you’re leaving Fresno on a day trip, where would you go?
Probably to the coast. Somewhere there isn’t a lot of people. Not one of the popular beaches.
This next question may get you into trouble, because Fresno cares so deeply about tacos. But you have to choose—what is your go-to Fresno taco?
There’s a place called Tacos Nayarit, and it’s easy to miss it. It’s on Blackstone, just north of Olive. There’s just a car hood that says “Tacos,” and it’s right next to a tool shop. And it’s probably the best place. And they have only one sauce, which is the best sauce.
What was your most memorable birthday and why?
I think it was the birthday when I turned 18, because it was my first year of community college and I was living away from home. But my mom still threw me a party when I came home. And I saved the candles.
What’s the hardest job you ever had?
I think the hardest job is the one I have now, as news director.
What’s the lowest wage you’ve ever received?
I was paid $13/hour when I was picking grapes.
What do you do to rest and recharge?
I take off my watch and put my phone away, and literally avoid all notifications. And then go for a run for about an hour.
How did you first get into journalism?
I wrote a story for the kNOw Youth Media about Lake Success … This was 2014, and I was paid. And I thought I could do this.
News directors don’t always have time to read, but I’m curious. What was the last book you read?
The last book I finished from start to finish is called The Burning Edge by Arthur Chichester. It’s about his travels through Belarus.
What’s the best story you ever covered?
The best story is maybe a story I did about the revitalization of the Lowell District in Fresno. It was in the Fresno Bee. I talked to a lot of people for that, and people felt like they learned a lot from that story.