National Association of Hispanic Journalists

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The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is a Washington, D.C.-based organization dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. Established in April 1984, NAHJ created a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists.

NAHJ has approximately 2,300 members, including working journalists, journalism students, other media-related professionals and journalism educators.

In 2014, Mekahlo Medina was elected president of the association, taking over the reigns from Hugo Balta who led the organization from 2012-2014. Medina's term will expire in August of 2016. Medina works for NBC Los Angeles as a digital anchor/reporter/social media strategist.

NAHJ History

The beginnings of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) can be traced back to a 1982 convention in San Diego. Organized by the California Chicano News Media Association (CCNMA) and a few journalists from the rest of the country, the convention attracted 300 participants. Hispanic journalists throughout the United States had already started an informal professional network, meeting at seminars sponsored by other industry groups, such as the American Society of Newspapers Editors. The need for a formal national organization grouping all Latino journalists had reached full maturity by the 1982 San Diego convention.

At the time, the largest organization of its type was the Los Angeles-based CCNMA. Following the San Diego conference, CCNMA decided to take the leading role in building the national group. The California association lent its executive director support and resources to the emerging NAHJ. After obtaining 50,000 in seed money from the Freedom Forum (then the Gannett foundation), an organizing committee was formed. It included 15 men and women representing the Mexican-American, Cuban and Puerto Rican communities, the three largest Hispanic sub-groups in the United States.

Displaying extraordinary energy and resolve, the organizing committee held meetings in Miami, Denver, Chicago and New York, in order to promote the national group concept and work out the details of the organization. After two years of arduous work, the articles of incorporation for NAHJ were finally signed in February of 1984.

At first, NAHJ operated out of L A, but for three reasons, it became apparent that a different venue was required. First, NAHJ needed to acquire a separate identity from CNNMA. Second, California Latinos were and are majority Mexican-American, and that did not accurately reflect the diversity of the Hispanic community. And finally, NAHJ had to participate with other industry groups in common areas of interest. In 1985, NAHJ established its headquarters in the National Press Building in Washington, D.C.

What originally started with 120 members burgeoned to 600 by the second year. Today, there are more than 1,500 members nationwide. More funds were also attracted, from $150, 000 in the first year, to an annual budget of over $800,000 by the end of 2012.

Today, NAHJ is an organization with deep regional roots and strong national presence. An active network has been created linking Hispanic journalists regionally and across the country. Programs and activities develop by the association are widely recognized as groundbreaking and tremendously effective for our colleges. Most importantly, NAHJ is still growing, both in memberships and activities. NAHJ policies and projects are geared to foster the interest of Hispanics students in Journalism.

Hall of Fame

In annual awards since 2000, the NAHJ recognizes great achievements.[1]

Previous honorees (with short notes in "quotes" being NAHJ website wordings) are:

2015:

2014: (Honorees were NAHJ's founders, represented by the following):

  • Robert Alaniz
  • Charlie Erickson
  • Jesus Davila
  • Juan Manuel Garcia Passalaqua
  • Gustavo Godoy
  • Frank Gomez
  • Juan Gonzalez
  • Paula Maes
  • Guillermo Martinez
  • Henry Mendoza
  • Maggie Rivas Rodriguez
  • Jay Rodriguez
  • Maria Elena Salinas
  • Edith Sayre Auslander
  • Norma Sosa

2013:

2012:

2011:

2010:

2009:

  • Geraldo Rivera: "Host, Fox’s newsmagazine “Geraldo-at-Large”
  • Ysabel Durón: "Anchor, KRON-TV (San Francisco) “Weekend Morning News”
  • Juan Gonzalez: "Founder and Editor, El Tecolote; professor of journalism, City College of San Francisco"

2008:

  • Juan Gonzalez: "Columnist, New York Daily News; former president, NAHJ"
  • Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez: "Professor, University of Texas at Austin, media activist"
  • Francisco P. Ramirez: "Founder, El Clamor Publico (Los Angeles)"

2007

2006:

2005:

2004

2003:

2002:

2001:

2000:

Professional Chapters

  • Atlanta
  • Austin
  • Bay Area (San Francisco/San Jose/Oakland)
  • Charlotte
  • Dallas/Fort Worth
  • Denver
  • New England
  • New Mexico
  • New York City
  • N.C. Triangle Chapter
  • Northern New Jersey
  • Oklahoma
  • Orlando
  • South Florida
  • Southwest Florida
  • Washington D.C.

Student Chapters

Past Presidents

  • Hugo Balta (2012-2014), Senior Director, Multicultural Content at ESPN
  • Michelle Salcedo (2010–2012),
  • Veronica Villafane (2004-2006), Founder, Editor and Publisher of Media Moves
  • Juan Gonzalez (2002-2004)
  • Cecilia E. Alvear (2000-2002)
  • Nancy Baca (1998-2000)

See also

References

  1. ^ "About the Hall of Fame". NAHJ.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Association_of_Hispanic_Journalists&oldid=698725633"