Jan Yanehiro Begins Career at SF Academy of Art University

By Gerrye Wong

“Exactly one year ago,” former Evening Magazine co-host Jan Yanehiro recalls, “a new opportunity fell into my lap just as I was ready for a new adventure in my life. President Elisa Stephens of the Academy of Art University in San Francisco asked me to build a new School of Multi Media Communications and join in as the Director. After being somewhat overwhelmed at the thought of setting up a school, something I had never had experience in before, I told her, ‘You know, I’m old and I’m rather bossy…so let’s do it!”

From that day on a year ago, Jan Yanehiro admits she has never worked so hard in her life, nor has she felt such satisfaction at preparing the next future broadcast journalists for their careers in a profession she has loved and been a shining light for over 34 years.

Starting with a few bare walls and a mini-sized office, Jan and Associate Director of the Multimedia Communications Program, Steve Kotton, Co-Owner of Production at New Material, Inc., an award winning state-of-the-art digital facility syndicated for broadcast and the web, put together the curriculum, set up its own mock studio and classrooms, and welcomed over 50 students their first year. Jan said she knew that to present the best, practical programs, you needed to hire the best. As she explains, “I hired all of my friends, the best in the business from my television days, to come in and teach.”

Among the award winners generously sharing their passion for broadcasting are Richard Hart, Steve Fox, Joe Fonzi, Dianne Fukami, Manny Ramos, Cheryl Jennings, Pam Moore, Ken Kashiwahara, Sydnie Kohara, Janice Gin, Wendy Tokuda, Emerald Yeh, Spencer Christian, Don Blue, Michael Rosenthal and Mark Danon, to name only a few. For its second year in operation, the department has enrolled roughly 250 students while offering 30 classes.

As the Academy of Art School of Multimedia Communications brochure explains, “You will do it all…write-shoot-edit-produce-host-report – and you will broadcast it all.” The program is fully accredited (WASC) and realizing the business of broadcasting is changing rapidly, Jan Yanehiro welcomes all students to be a part of the changes. She believes in a hands-on communications program where students will be able to create, edit and produce their own work. Both bachelor of arts and masters degree programs are available for students, which range from just out of high school to other older adults who want to enter the field.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Jan recalls very humble beginnings where both grandmothers were picture brides from Japan. Her father was a taxi driver and mother worked at Love’s Bakery her whole career. The always inquisitive island girl, Jan, got “island fever” and felt the need to leave. Journalism was something she loved doing from an early age, starting in junior high school, she wrote for the school newspaper and that continued through college.  After attending Fresno State University, she wanted to expand her horizons beyond California and became a stewardess to travel the world for TWA for two years.

“The turning point in my life,” recalls Jan, “was taking a job as a secretary at KFRC radio where I worked my way up to news Reporter and had my own talk show on the weekends. In 1975, a new experimental show called Evening Magazine on KPIX TV was auditioning hosts, so I tried out for the job with 220 other journalists. I got lucky and got the job. Being Asian and female, I feel, were definitely two pluses going for me. This became a dream job of a lifetime with the opportunity to travel around the world and interview the rich and famous. With this program the magazine format of television was born and my most memorable adventure on the show was bungee jumping and sky diving with the Army’s Gold Knights. For 15 years, I co hosted the show until it ended in 1990 and feel humbled now to be listed as the first Asian American pioneer host of a daily magazine formatted show.”

Her Evening Magazine work brought Yanehiro numerous Emmy awards in entertainment programming, and the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award from the United Nations of San Francisco, and induction into the Acadmy of Television and Radio Hall of Fame, New York City.

Always enthusiastic about anything she takes on, Jan is the perfect Director to excite her students to her school of multimedia communications. She likes best that her students have the opportunity to learn from top working professionals in the field today where they get mentored and trained by pros who are today’s talents whether it be on screen, or on air. She has opened the curriculum so that students take classes in a real-world production environment behind cameras, behind mock desks or on interview couches.

“I’m getting caught up in the new world of technology where we teach students from recent high school graduates to career changing school returnees to work with YouTube, blogs, webisodes, mobisodes, podcasts, TV spots, FM-AM radio, Online Radio, and so many more. There is so much to the field of communications today, our students are getting experience in classes of advertising, animation & visual effects, computer arts, New Media digital arts & communications, fashion, fine art, graphic design, illustration-industrial design and motion pictures & television photography. You name it – we offer it. My door will always be open for any persons who are thinking of making a career change or challenge as my days at the school are fulfilling for me when I can counsel someone about my favorite field of broadcast journalism.”

A project she will always be proud of was being Host to “Resettlement to Redress”, a documentary on the Japanese American experience after World War II. She also was Executive Producer of “Pacific Fusion,” a television magazine airing nationally highlighting Asia Pacific people, trends, food and fashion. Currently she co-hosts “Giving 5 with Jan and Jen” on KPIX TV with First Lady of San Francisco Jennifer Siebel Newaom, which presents stories on people giving back to their communities.

The ever lovely youthful Jan Yanehiro has three children, Jaclyn, Jenna and J.B. Zimmerman and resides in her favorite city of San Francisco. Her most recent co-authorship of a book in 2007 was titled, “This is Not the Life I Ordered, 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down.” The title seems to sum up Jan’s philosophy of life. To hear her tell it, she says, “When I was growing up, there was no one who looked like me on TV. I never dreamed I could be on TV. So my advice is – Dream…and dream big! Never let anyone say, you can’t do what you want. Ban the naysayers. Listen to YOUR inner voice. And don’t be afraid to take risks! It can all be worth it.”

For more information about the Academy of Art, visit: www.academyart.edu.