MDC Faculty

My Background and Interests

     Merwin Sigale teaches JOU 1100, Basic Reporting; JOU 2200, Editing and Makeup; MMC 2000, Introduction to Mass Communication; and POS 2041, American Federal Government.

     Before joining the faculty of Miami Dade College, he worked in radio, television, newspapers and magazines, covering news throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Miami and the Southern United States. His passion now is to enhance students' understanding of journalism, mass media, government and politics -- whether it's for a career path or just to become better-informed citizens, better thinkers and better writers. Many of his students have moved on to successful media careers.

     Professor Sigale (pronounced SY-gal) pursued a multimedia career as a Latin American correspondent for ABC News, the Westinghouse Radio Network, Radio Australia, the New York Daily News, The Miami News and the Washington Star; news manager in Venezuela for United Press International; co-anchor and managing editor of "The Nightly Business Report" on Channel 2 in Miami; moderator of the weekly "Special Assignment" interview programs on Channel 17 in Miami; business editor of The Miami News; editor of the International Business Chronicle; copy editor for the Miami Herald; and special correspondent in Miami for the Reuters News Agency, Newsweek magazine and American Banker.

     Professor Sigale received a national John Hancock Award for Excellence in Business and Financial Journalism. He was also honored with the Miami-Dade County mayor's proclamation of Merwin Sigale Day on Sept. 23, 1989, which stated that "Merwin Sigale's knowledgeable business advice and keen commentary have been invaluable to local residents."

     The foreign stories he covered included communism in Cuba; Venezuela's first taste of democracy; politics and elections throughout Latin America and the Caribbean; interviews with presidents and prime ministers; the U.S. military intervention in the Dominican Republic's civil war; earthquakes; hurricanes; guerrilla movements in several countries; dictatorships in several others; the U.S. role in the Panama Canal; and Puerto Rico's long-running debate on its U.S. commonwealth status. He also covered official trips to Europe and Latin America by two U.S. presidents and four senators.

     In the United States, Professor Sigale covered the civil rights movement in the South, including the Selma, Alabama, campaign of Martin Luther King Jr.; national and state politics and elections; five Super Bowl football games; Cuban immigration, including the Mariel boatlift; South Florida's urban and economic growth; hurricanes; airplane hijackings; and local, national and international business and financial issues. He helped produce the award-winning television coverage of the Ronny Zamora murder trial in Miami, the first TV coverage of a trial after cameras were banned from courtrooms for decades. 

     Professor Sigale was born in Chicago. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Illinois. On the university's debate team, he advanced twice to the national championship tournament at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. His leisure-time passions have included his family and friends; his sailboat, which he raced in five Columbus Day regattas on Biscayne Bay; racewalking; classical, folk and popular music; classic movies; baseball; chess; and a succession of extraordinary dogs.