Excelencia Awards 2024 recognized the most influential Latina journalists in California

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This past Saturday night, seven Latina journalists from California received the Most Influential Latina Award at the Excellence Awards 2024. The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) and the Latino Journalists of California CCNMA held the event at the Loews Hotel in Hollywood. 

The journalists were selected based on the quality of their work, the size and importance of their reach, and the arc of their careers.

Mekhalo Medina, executive director of CCNMA, said the journalists’ influence reaches millions of people and their example inspires many more Latinos to pursue careers in journalism.

Five of them received CCNMA's Most Influential Latina Award: Hilda Gutierrez from NBC Bay Area, Brittny Mejia from the L.A. Times, Alejandra Ortiz from Telemundo Los Angeles, Zoya Taylor Matich from NBC News and Megan Telles from KTLA 5. 

There were two special recognitions that evening as well. CCNMA and NAHJ together selected Cecilia Vega from CBS News 60 Minutes as the first National Latina Journalist of the Year.

During her speech, Vega thanked CCNMA for its help when she was an inexperienced journalist trying to get a job. 

“I literally got my first job because of CCNMA. They picked up the phone and called the newspaper not too far away from here and said, ‘You should hire this kid, she doesn’t have experience, but we see something in her,’” she recalled. “And NAHJ has been there for me from the day I got that first job and got my seat at the table, so I owe everything to these guys.” 

The second special recognition was the organization's first Courage in Journalism award, which went to Mariel Garza. She was the former editorials editor of the Los Angeles Times, resigning after the newspaper’s owner blocked the editorial board’s plans to make a Presidential endorsement. 

Garza received a standing ovation when she walked to the podium. While she was excited to be the recipient, she said she never thought she would get an award for quitting her job. She said, however, that she doesn’t regret it because she stands for what she believes.

NAHJ Awards went to Isabella Ramirez as National Student of the Year, Blanca Rios as Volunteer/Community Award, NBCUniversal News Group was honored with the Corporate Diversity Award and Sylvia Rosabal received the Ñ Legacy Award.

The keynote speaker was renowned comedian, actress, and activist Aida Rodriguez. She’s known for challenging stereotypes, tackling social issues, and celebrating the richness of the Latino culture. 

During her speech, she called out comedians who use black humor to belittle certain communities. She specifically referred to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” during a Trump rally. 

Empowering Latino journalists

CCNMA was founded in 1972 in Los Angeles and it is the oldest regional organization of journalists of color in the country. They first offered scholarships in 1976 and held their first journalism job fair in 1978. So far, CCNMA has awarded more than $800,000 in scholarships to more than 800 Latino journalism students. 

NAHJ, a national network of journalists with more than 4,000 members, was formed during a 1982 journalism convention hosted by CCNMA in San Diego. With the support of CCNMA, NAHJ became official in 1984 and currently operates from Washington D. C., with 23 professional chapters and 28 student chapters across the nation. They hold an annual conference and expo, with the 2025 edition scheduled for July 9 through 12, 2025 in Chicago

During the event, there was also a silent auction which will continue benefiting programs for both organizations including journalism trainings and workshops for professionals, and internships and scholarships for students. Both organizations, at the national and state levels, work hard to provide critical resources to empower aspiring Latino journalists to achieve their professional goals and create a lasting impact in media. 

Participants and awardees of the event congratulated both organizations for the job they do in continuing to empower Latino journalists.

Vega said it is important to continue supporting these organizations because “it takes us to help us to get through that [journalism] door.”