Avery Martinez, Be Mindful reporter
Avery Martinez is the mental health reporter for KVIA-TV. He’s a corps member of Report for America, supplying newsrooms with journalists nationwide. He’s originally from a small town in rural Colorado, growing up in the Rockies. He’s a newcomer to Texas — heading to the Lone Star State to work for KVIA — after years in different media.
His focus at KVIA is Be Mindful, and the mental health of the El Paso area. In this role, he tackles many aspects of stigma, treatment, and challenges with having a healthy mindset.
While currently working in TV, Martinez has extensive experience in print and radio. He’s worked in major cities and rural towns. He cut his teeth in smaller family newspapers, before working for major syndicates and networks. Martinez has been a staff writer for a legal newspaper, radio news anchor, immigration specialist, interim editor, campaign correspondent and columnist—in addition to covering city, state and federal courts and legislatures. Martinez has won awards and recognition for his coverage of election committees, immigrant legal representation, and the future of the bar exam.
He brings a community approach to reporting — which is very important to him. He believes that journalism is a calling, and sees his job as a public servant. He hopes that the community will approach him with concerns, story ideas, and input about the Borderland around him.
Martinez was the first graduate of Fort Lewis College’s Journalism and Mass Media Studies program. He comes from a mixed Hispanic heritage, and does not speak Spanish – but is keen to learn.
When he’s not reporting, he enjoys riding his motorcycle, visiting historic museums, volunteering in the community and sketching. You can find him at movie theatres, in cafes or at the library.
