Some of Rafael's main responsibilities as a Digital Media Producer at NBC 7 include writing and editing news articles, producing video content, sharing content across multiple social media platforms, and curating content on NBC7.com and NBC 7's mobile and OTT apps.
Along with a team of talented journalists at NBC 7, Rafael was recognized with the National Murrow Edward R. Award in "excellence in innovation" for his work on "STOLEN," a seven-part, digital-exclusive documentary series looking into child sex trafficking and exploitation in San Diego County and beyond.
Rafael helped lead digital execution and presentation efforts for the project and was the lead copy editor. "STOLEN" was the result of more than a year's worth of tireless investigative journalism by NBC 7 anchor Monica Dean. The project was the station's first to debut and appear only on digital platforms. Click here to watch. |
“STOLEN” has been recognized with a Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) National Murrow Award for “Excellence in Innovation,” three Regional Murrow Awards, a Golden Mike Award, five Emmy Awards, Silver and Bronze “Telly” Awards, and three awards from the Society of Professional Journalists San Diego chapter.
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Following the success of "STOLEN," NBC 7 debuted "Breakdown,” another multi-part project aimed at exposing the mental health care crisis in San Diego.
Rafael worked with the lead reporter on the project, anchor Catherine Garcia, on digital presentation and strategy for the four-part documentary and the two continue to add to and adapt the project page as policy makers and the San Diego community react to the regional crisis. Click here to watch "Breakdown." |
Pandemic Coverage
The coronavirus pandemic brought with it a lifetime's worth of disaster, shock, tragedy and change. Rafael were glued to pandemic-related coverage since early 2020 when San Diego County's first confirmed case of community-transmitted COVID-19 got everyone's attention.
2021 U.S. Open Coverage
The PGA Tour's annual stop in San Diego for the Farmers Insurance Open is always one of the most exiting weeks of the year. When the USGA brought the 2021 U.S. Open to San Diego, the fun ramped up. The U.S. Open at Torrey Pines was one of golf's first post-pandemic tournaments with a crowd and tickets were hard to come by. So, Rafael and sports anchor Darnay Tripp found exciting ways to bring the famed ocean-front track, and the thrill of the major, to the fans instead.
Fly Over Every Hole of the South Course at Torrey Pines Ahead of the 2021 U.S. OpenIt's hard to fully appreciate golf course setups at major championships while watching on TV. Thanks to DroneRanger 7, we can give you a golf ball's perspective of the South Course at Torrey Pines. Take the tour here.
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Touring Torrey: A Tee-to-Green Preview of Key Holes Ahead of 2021 U.S. OpenCourse expert Scott Bentley provides a close look at five daunting holes that will decide who leaves Torrey Pines with a major championship. Learn the course here.
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Here are some more stories from Rafael featuring video produced for the web and social media.
‘Blown Away': Captain Records Play Date With Orca Pod Off San Diego Coast
"This is the holy grail." That's how Mike Silva, captain of the Nimbus, described his run-in with a pod of majestic orcas off the coast of San Diego in May. Read the whole story here. Another Deep-Sea Fish, This One Cannibalistic, Washes Up on San Diego Beach
A week after a Pacific footballfish, an ultra-rare, deep-sea anglerfish that cameoed in "Finding Nemo," washed up on Black’s Beach, beachgoers near the Scripps Institution of Oceanography discovered a 4-foot live lancetfish. The hermaphroditic lancetfish are nowhere near as rare as Pacific footballfish, according to researchers with Scripps, but they’re perhaps just as interesting. Read the whole story here. More Featured Stories
'No Room for Quitters' at Physical Therapy Clinic Where Miracles Happen Daily Once-Homeless Mother Overcame, Now She’s Paying It Forward Mother of Teen Shark Attack Victim Says Son is a 'Warrior' Thunderstorms In San Diego: Downed Trees, Flooded Roads and a Rare Padres Rain Delay ‘Is This the End?': 1 Killed in Shooting at Dave & Buster's Arcade Restaurant in Mission Valley Big Storm Flushes Big Pollutants Out of Tijuana Onto County Shorelines 106-Year-Old Pearl Harbor Vet Dies in San Diego Professional Drivers Say Rain Exposes Unseasoned San Diegans National Guard Brigade Returns Just In Time for Thanksgiving Sea Lion Caught Blocking Traffic in Point Loma Outpouring of Support Gives Ramona Family Hope After Fire Takes Everything |
‘We Messed Up': City Promises to Review New Mira Mesa Street Design; Considering Next Steps
The city of San Diego’s Transportation Department apologized repeatedly to Mira Mesa residents who complained about a confusing traffic flow design the city admits was implemented on a busy residential street without fair warning. See more here.
Golf Legend Phil Mickelson Takes Credit for Boom That Shook San Diego Tuesday
Something shook San Diego Tuesday night and no one really knew what it was, except for golf legend Phil Mickelson, apparently.
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Prior to NBC 7, Rafael worked as a Digital Content Producer at San Diego's KFMB Stations publishing content across all of its digital properties, including CBS News 8, The CW San Diego, 760 AM and 100.7 KFMB-FM.
Featured Stories:
Cyclist killed, hit by car while riding on SR-76
Fire Chief responds to lifeguard Sgt.'s claims that rescue teams were 'blocked'
Rep. Hunter a no-show at citizens' town hall
Labor-less cooking for Labor Day weekend
Featured Stories:
Cyclist killed, hit by car while riding on SR-76
Fire Chief responds to lifeguard Sgt.'s claims that rescue teams were 'blocked'
Rep. Hunter a no-show at citizens' town hall
Labor-less cooking for Labor Day weekend