NAHJ, CNN: Diversity Is Good For Business

It was confirmed last week that Soledad O'Brien is leaving CNN and launching a production company.

NAHJ and NABJ were quick to reach out to CNN's new leadership to discuss concerns and hopes about the network's diversity as part of their business strategy.

Latinos are increasingly influential in all aspects of society in the United States. As the face of the nation continues to change, so must those entrusted in producing and delivering content that profoundly affects us all.

There have been several articles critical of CNN's diversity, but certainly those challenges are not unique to the cable news network. Many network and local news organizations need to improve on being more reflective and inclusive of the community they serve.

Click on the links to read some of the articles written recently on the subject:

NABJ meeting with Jeff Zucker

My message to NAHJ members

National Association of Hispanic Journalists Urges CNN To Increase Diversity

Zucker Fields Complaints About CNN Diversity

CNN President to Appear at NAHJ Conference

CNN's New Journalism Hires Are All White

Hugo Balta: Champion of Change

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the Washington D.C. based premier organization of Latino journalists from across the country, is being led by a Connecticut Latino working out of ESPN in Bristol.

That man is Hugo Balta and in his first year in office he is a “Champion of Change” improving opportunities for Latinos in the media and holding the media in general to higher standards of professionalism.

Here is the CTLatinonews.com article:

http://ctlatinonews.com/blog/2012/12/20/champions-of-change-top-latinos-in-arts-and-media/

First Be Right, Then Be First (The Coverage of The Connecticut School Shooting)

As the horrible elementary school shooting story out of Newtown, Connecticut unfolded on Friday, journalists raced to be the first in providing details. They inundated every platform (television, radio, digital) with wave after wave of information.  

The problem is that it was misinformation.

The glaring errors are the outcome of an impatient media culture that too often steps on the gas when it should put on the brakes.

Here’s the OpEd I wrote for Fox News Latino:

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/opinion/2012/12/15/hugo-balta-first-be-right-then-be-first-when-covering-breaking-news/

Entrevista con la revista digital: La Diaspora

´´El periodismo me da la oportunidad de agradecer a las personas que ayudaron a mis padres´´

 

 

Haz click aqui: http://peruimmigrationdocumentationproject.blogspot.com/2012/11/entrevista-hugo-balta-jr-primer.html#!/2012/11/entrevista-hugo-balta-jr-primer.html

NAHJ South Florida's Annual Charity Mixer

On Thursday, December 13 - the NAHJ South Florida chapter held its annual charity mixer at the Cafeina Wynwood Lounge.

In collaboration with Strong Women Strong Girls (SWSG), the NAHJ South Florida chapter collected new and gently used children’s books for ages 8-10 in Spanish and English.

Books were donated to South Florida school libraries in need.



There was great local Latin jazz.

It was a great opportunity to thank members who have supported NAHJ for years as well as welcome new members to our great association.

A very special thanks to chapter president Pia Malbran and the board for organizing the event!

NAHJ South Florida Chapter website:

http://www.nahjsouthflorida.org/

La ética del fotoperiodismo

Mi entrevista con Cafe CNN sobre la ética del fotoperiodismo y la responsabilidad de publicar imágenes sensibles.

Haz click aqui:
 http://cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2012/12/06/cnnee-new-york-post-contreversy.cnn.html

Region 5 Conference: Encuentro En San Antonio

The final regional conference of the year concluded in beautiful San Antonio, Texas.



 "Encuentro en San Antonio" featured panel discussions about the Latino vote in this year's election, the future of Spanish language media and diversity in U.S. newsrooms.

Training included social media and ethics.



with Executive Director Anna Lopez Buck

I was happy to meet so many excited members who were grateful for the event.

We planned for 70, hoped for 100 and 175 members showed up!!

With Region 5 Director Bonnie Gonzalez and students

 

A video recap of the NAHJ/SAAHJ Region 5 conference in San Antonio. A special thanks to NAHJ secretary/KGO-TV reporter, Sergio Quintana who produced the video.

A special thanks to Elaine Ayala, Nora Lopez and the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists (SAAHJ) for organizing the event!