Bustillos is the associate producer for On Campus, WGBH’s Higher Education Desk. Born and raised in Texas, he interned at the San Antonio Express-News, NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and The Dallas Morning News before moving to Boston. He’s a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas, where he was the Editor-in-Chief of the student newspaper, The Mercury, and was a DJ for Radio UTD. We sat down with him to ask a few questions:
What do you like best about working at WGBH?
Esteban: I came here from Texas, and I didn’t know anyone. Very quickly I became part of the team, because everyone is very welcoming and friendly. In any field, that’s hard to come by. There are so many talented hardworking people who care a lot about their jobs. The people here share many of the values I have and care about the same things I do.
What is something surprising about the newsroom?
Esteban: A lot of the newsroom staff are incredibly talented at things that have nothing to do with journalism. Craig LeMoult is a very skilled magician and News Host Henry Santoro is an amazing cook. At last year’s newsroom holiday party, there were 12 guitar players, a bass player, someone on drums and a piano. The year before, a reporter brought her trumpet.
What is the best thing about your job?
Esteban: When I do a story and it all pays off. Reporting can feel stressful until the very end. By the time a story airs, I’ve probably listened to it about 20 times and read it many times as well. When it works and I’ve got it right, it’s a great feeling.
Best moment at WGBH?
Esteban: I recently worked on a story that I had a lot of fun with and I found very important personally. It was a feature on the 50th anniversary of boxer Rocky Marciano’s death. I went to Brockton, his hometown, to visit the gym there that is run by his cousins. In Brockton, that is the only gym left that’s just about boxing. I went with Meredith Nierman, our photographer. She took some of the most amazing pictures I’ve ever seen. I could describe the gym in words, but her photos were artwork.
Who would you want to have dinner with, living or dead?
Esteban: Selena, the Mexican American singer who died when she was only 23. I grew up in Texas and come from a Mexican household and background. Her career was such a big deal for us. She has this incredible legacy still. Could she have foreseen what her impact would be, and how big a deal she was and still is today?
For you, what would be the best two-for-one sale?
A light saber. It seems like they’d be expensive.