The National Association of Hispanic Journalists comes to Los Angeles

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), the leading organization for Latinos in media and journalism, dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Latinos in the news industry, is holding its 40th Anniversary Conference and Expo in Hollywood, California. 

The conference will take place from July 9-13, 2024 and will feature a list of workshops and job training opportunities for Latinos in the journalism field. Many of the workshops and discussions are free for students, reflecting the organization's commitment to the professional advancement of Hispanic students, professionals, and educators. 

Today, the Latino organization has more than 3,500 members nationwide. Apart from celebrating 40 years, this year NAHJ also celebrated the return to the Golden State, where the organization’s articles of incorporation were signed in 1984.

However, before 1984, the commencement of NAHJ can be traced back to a 1982 convention in San Diego organized by the California Chicano News Media Association (CCNMA), which led and took on the role of building NAHJ to successfully represent and give voice to not only Mexican-American journalists but Latino journalists from other parts of North, Central and South America. 

Latino journalists and reporters have been growing in numbers but still fall short in newsroom representation and roles. According to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, 8% of journalists in the U.S. identify as Hispanic or Latino. 

However, a 2021–2023 survey by NAHJ found that only 13% of investigative news reporters are Latino and many of them have been negatively and disproportionately affected by recent newsroom layoffs. In addition, the NAHJ also found that Latinos are underrepresented in other roles in journalism, such as executive producers, anchors, managing editors, and executive editors. 

“Informing and engaging all Americans is essential to the success of our multicultural democracy, especially as we move toward becoming a majority-minority country,” NAHJ President Yvette Cabrera, said. “Latino journalists often help new Americans and overlooked communities connect to the news while giving the rest of the country a much more accurate and nuanced understanding of their Hispanic neighbors.”

To kick off the conference on Tuesday, NAHJ held a free town meeting open to the public and free for students titled “Election 2024: Empowering Hispanic Voters as AI Amplifies Misinformation.” The town hall touched on one of the most significant barriers for Latinos, which is accessing accurate information and navigating the digital landscape.

The panelists included Laura Zommer, chief executive officer of Factchequeado; Alfredo Corchado, executive editor of PUENTE News; Juan Espinoza, senior policy advisor on civil rights at UNIDOS.us; and Christian Arana, vice president of Civic Power and Policy, Latino Community Foundation. Elian Zidan, co-anchor of Univision’s Edicion Nocturna, was the moderator of the conference. Participants were able to learn about how misinformation campaigns target Latino communities through social media platforms, messaging apps, and other digital channels. 

This year, ABC News/ESPN is the lead sponsor of the year-long 40th Anniversary Celebration, while NBCUniversal will once again be the sponsor of the conference that will end Saturday. 

“We’re honored to sponsor the 40th anniversary of this storied organization,” said Derek Medina, executive vice president of ABC News. “Now more than ever, it is crucial to champion journalists of diverse backgrounds to tell the stories and amplify the voices of audiences we serve. Congratulations to NAHJ on 40 years of steadfast commitment to educate and elevate bold, straightforward journalists.” 

Last year, in 2023, more than 1,500 members attended the 2023 annual conference in Miami, which featured 70 training sessions in English and Spanish.

On-site registration for journalists interested in attending this year’s conference will also be available at the Loews Hollywood Hotel.

To learn more about NAHJ and this year's conference visit nahj.org