Cavazos promoted to news director at Caller-Times
From an early age, Mary Ann Cavazos knew she wanted to be a journalist. An avid reader and budding writer as a child, she combined her passions into a homemade newsletter. Although these newsletters were mostly about her family, she still made the rounds delivering them in her grandma’s neighborhood.
The 2001 King High School graduate and Del Mar College student never quit working toward her goal of making her community a better place, and the former Foghorn reporter has risen to the rank of news director at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
Cavazos’ path was unexpected. The young reporter was quickly making a name for herself with the Foghorn, even being named Newcomer of the Year in 2003, when a news assistant position opened up at the Caller- Times.
Though the job was largely unglamorous — typing obituaries, building the weather page, compiling calendars and the like — she jumped at it because it would be her foot in the door of her hometown newspaper.
Cavazos stood out in the role and was soon offered a couple of stories, then given a beat. She would cover North Bay, the police and courts beats before moving to assistant metro editor.
She eventually led the metro desk for two years before being promoted to news director, which traditionally has been known as managing editor and is the No. 2 position in the newsroom.
As city editor at the Caller- Times, Cavazos and the paper received numerous awards, including 32 Texas Associated Press Managing Editors awards in 2016, one of them being Newspaper of the Year.
Cavazos also was named to Editor and Publisher’s “25 Under 35,” which recognizes some of the best young minds in the journalism industry.
Cavazos contributes much of her success to simply being involved in the newsroom, by helping others sharpen their skills, and most importantly taking on any task and doing it to the best of her abilities.
She attributes those abilities to skills gained at Del Mar College and through the Foghorn.
Her husband, however, credits her work ethic and determination.
“Whether she’s being a mom, wife or editor, Mary Ann always gives it her all,” said DMC journalism adviser Scott Beckett, who met Cavazos while the two worked at the Caller-Times.
“Her love for our kids is rivaled only by her love for the community. She has a real passion for helping others.”
Cavazos’ new role includes planning and newsgathering activities for mobile, tablet, print and online publication.
Although her duties have changed, she still loves being on the floor, in action, enjoying the challenge and the reward of knowing that anything can change at any moment.
Cavazos, who stopped taking classes when her career at the Caller-Times started to take off, recently returned to DMC and is taking online classes as she works toward her degree.
She said she hopes others see the value in both completing their education and learning on the job. She encourages others who find themselves at Del Mar College, whether for the first time or back again, to pursue their goals, no matter how long they take.
“I am extremely grateful for Del Mar College,” Cavazos said. “Del Mar offers opportunity, and really, you get what you put into it.”
