Rene Villanueva Sr.

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Rene Villanueva (born 1950) is a Belizean journalist, businessman and broadcaster. He is General Manager of radio station LOVE FM and CEO of RSV Media Center, located on Slaughterhouse Road in Belize City.

[edit] Biography

Rene Villanueva was born in Belize City but went to Honduras with his family at the age of 7. He started his career in Radio in 1966 at Radio Station La Voz del Atlantico in Puerto Cortes Honduras at age 16. Just before his 17th birthday he joined the staff of Radio Belize as a temporary Spanish Continuity Announcer. He was trained at the BBC in London in 1974. Villanueva became Chief Broadcasting Officer in 1983 becoming the second and last Belizean to substantively hold the title. He conceptualized and spearheaded the creation of the Broadcasting Corporation of Belize and became its first General Manager in 1990. He left the Corporation in November of 1992 at the end of his two year contract and started Love FM the largest and most successful Radio Station in the history of Belize. In 1998 the Government of Belize decided to close down the Broadcasting Corporation of Belize and sell its assets.

[edit] Thanks for Choosing LOVE

This article or section contains information regarding scheduled, forthcoming or expected future book(s). It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change dramatically as the product release approaches and more information becomes available.

In March of 2007, Villanueva released his first book, "Thanks For Choosing Love", which details his life and work in Belize's broadcasting industry, particularly at Radio Belize and Love FM.

Villanueva launched his autobiography at an emotional ceremony in Belize City on March 22, 2007. Persons from all sectors of Belize attended and lauded Villanueva's contributions to Belizean media. LOVE FM employees came out in support of the "Chief", as he is referred to there, and read out excerpts from the book. In its report on the story, presenter Jacqueline Godwin of News 5 commented that both herself and Five GM Stewart Krohn learned at Villanueva's feet at Radio Belize and regretted being unable to cover the story (Janelle Chanona was designated reporter. In his review, Channel 7's Jules Vasquez noted that Villanueva's words exude "confidence" and were "definitive" in their scope, though he complained that Villanueva sounded "self-serving." The book is now available for 40 dollars at local outlets.