Madelyn Vega
Madelyn Vega is a Puerto Rican journalist and attorney who works as Judge for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and was an anchor and reporter for Telemundo in New York for over a decade.
Early career
Vega began her career in 1984 as a radio announcer and reporter in Puerto Rico, for the all news radio stations WKAQ (AM) and Noti Uno, where she became the News Director. Later she joined Channel 24, Multimedia Puerto Rico, an all news television network, as an anchor/reporter.
While working as Public Relations Director for the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, she edited and wrote part of the book: Journalism in Puerto Rico. In 1990 she joined Telemundo San Juan as an anchor/reporter, which helped her become a household name and recognized figure in the Island. During this time also, she enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico Law School, and after graduating CUM LAUDE was admitted to the Bar. She also holds a master's degree in Psychology and Counseling, graduating Summa Cum Laude and a BA in Literature, CUM LAUDE, both from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus.
She joined Telemundo 47 New York in 2001, and among other stories covered the events on September 11, 2001 attacks. She anchored the morning show for over three years. At Telemundo-New York she was also an anchor and special projects reporter.
While she maintained a high profile career as a broadcast journalist, Madelyn Vega also dedicated time to her legal interests mostly Ad Honorem. She developed a legal TV segment while at Telemundo NBC for over 10 years.
After more than 20 years as a journalist, Madelyn Vega decided to pursue her legal career and took the New Jersey Bar in 2007. She is admitted as a member of the New Jersey Bar, Puerto Rico Bar and the Federal Bar. She joined the New York State Department of Labor where her efforts were geared to enforce the Department's efforts to reach out to workers and empower them with knowledge about their rights.
In 2008 she was appointed as a Judge for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico where she serves. She stills writes free lance and is working on the publication of two books.
Awards
Madelyn Vega was nominated for three Emmy Awards for her reporting work for 2008 and was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2007 for On Camera Achievement. Also, during her career as a reporter she won numerous awards, including 6 Paoli Award, 3 Overseas Press Club Awards,and an ACE award. Madelyn Vega was also the recipient of more than 12 excellence in Journalism awards both in New York and in Puerto Rico and was chosen as one of the Outstanding Personalities by the New York Puerto Rico Institute and was selected as a Distinguished Citizen by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Senate. She is a former President of the Overseas Press Club of Puerto Rico and Co Director of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Puerto Rico Chapter.
Publications
Ms. Vega is also a prolific freelance writer who writes editorial columns, travel stories and educational materials. Ms. Vega has published 12 books. She was the editor of the textbook "Journalism in Puerto Rico" in 1987. In 2007 she published her book Letters to my Son for Editorial Cultural. In March, 2014 a second issue was published "Letters to my Son 2". On October 9, 2015, Ms. Vega published the collection of children stories "Tommy, the Traveling Dolphin" 1, 2 and 3. The publication follows a bilingual format: English and Spanish. Fanti and other stories, a children stories book also in a bilingual format was published on April 20, 2016. Ms. Vega is currently editing a fifth children book to be released in December, 2016.
In December, 2015 Ms. Vega also published the book "Puerto Rico: Stories and Verses" which is a collection of stories and poems about her upbringing in her native Puerto Rico.The book includes a photographic essay that portrays the natural beauty of the Island. This photographic essay is a joint effort with her son Xavier Torres Vega.
Ms. Vega is also working on a third installment of her series "Letters to my Son" to be published in 2017.
She is also a gospel singer and hymn composer and released the CD "Por todo gracias"/"That's Why I Thank You" also in December, 2015. The cd includes 12 of her original songs. Ms. Vega is currently working on a second CD which will include 8 of her original songs to be released in Fall, 2016.
Personal life
Vega was born in New York City after her parents emigrated there for a few years. The family returned to Puerto Rico, where she was raised.
She is married to composer/conductor Raymond Torres-Santos, with whom she is the parent of one child.