From the Latino Reporter newsletter: Finding hope in a turbulent industry, Latino journalists gather at national conference
Finding hope in a turbulent industry, Latino journalists gather at national conference
Like many people, I open social media every morning to a flood of information about both the news and the people producing it. Some mornings, I find stories that are lighthearted and hopeful. But, more often than I’d like, news about the journalism industry, as it turns out, isn’t always inspiring.
As I scroll through announcements of layoffs, shrinking local news staffs and journalists being arrested just for doing their jobs, I am filled with questions about the future of this ever-changing industry. Just this week, the CBS president — the first Latina to lead a U.S. English-language news network — stepped down and CNN axed about 100 jobs at CNN were axed.
My name is Lauren Lifke and I’m a New Mexico-based journalist who, this week, has been working from Hollywood with the Latino Reporter. Today, I’ll be bringing you the news in a special partnership between NBC Latino and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, which is hosting its 40th anniversary celebration and annual conference here in Los Angeles.
Looking up from my phone screen this week, I’m surrounded by media professionals who are doing innovative and inspiring things despite an industry in turmoil.
Just yesterday, I attended a membership meeting headed up by NAHJ, the largest nonprofit for Hispanic and Latino journalists in the U.S. There, journalists from around the country got together in an effort to improve the inner workings of the organization and offer guidance to others — by improving its own bylaws (goodbye ancient technology; looking at you, fax machines) and releasing an LGBTQIA+ style guide in English and Spanish at a time when issues facing the queer community are increasingly relevant. If you’re reading this and you’re an NAHJ member, go vote in the election.
As we head into the second half of conference week here, I’m choosing to stay optimistic. I hope you’ll join me.
Here’s a look at the news today:
🤳’La Selfie’ and ‘La Feminist’: A night playing Millennial Lotería 🧜♀️
Listen to the sounds of triumphant cheers as Latino journalists bonded with each other over the card game Lotería — with a twist. The Latino Reporter’s Briana Mendez-Padilla brings you an audio story about NAHJ’s take on the traditional Latino card game, depicting millennial pop culture references like “El Hashtag,” “La Selfie,” and more.
Capítulos estudiantiles en áreas rurales de Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico se destacan en NAHJ
Student journalists from outside well-known Latino epicenters like the Southwest and Florida came together Wednesday in a friendly competition awarding the best NAHJ student chapter. Members from University of Missouri, University of Arkansas and University of Puerto Rico in Arecibo competed for the trophy. Read as Rachell Sanchez-Smith and Kiara Maldonado share the stories of young professionals in the journalism and Latino communities overcoming challenges in both.
‘OG street reporter,’ long-time NAHJ member remembered for his love of dance, storytelling
Latino journalists and their community mourned one of its own: Rubén Rosario, who passed away this week. Known as the “OG street reporter,” he spent his career uplifting communities that have not always gotten the attention they deserve, especially back in the 1970s and 1980s. Check out Shawntay Lewis’s tribute to Rosario’s life and legacy, as many remember him as an inspiration.
Journalists show off their periodista pride at NAHJ with new t-shirt collaboration
Sofia Mireles-Gonzales is closing us off with a feel-good story about queer Latina entrepreneurs who make merchandise that celebrates our cultura. NAHJ’s collaboration with Texas-based JZD is selling merch that reads “periodista” as part of the organization’s “#MoreLatinosInNews” campaign.
This is our last newsletter this week! We’ll continue sharing more news on the Latino Reporter tomorrow. But before we sign out, we’d like to extend a special thank you to Joy Y. Wang, senior editorial director for NBC News, and Sandra Lilley, managing editor of NBC Latino, for helping us bring this newsletter to your inbox.
You can also sign up for more news from NBC Latino here.
Lauren Lifke is an incoming senior double-majoring in journalism and statistics at the University of New Mexico. She is the news editor for its student newspaper The New Mexico Daily Lobo and an intern for the Santa Fe Reporter. She aspires to work with data and investigative journalism. She can be reached at lifke.laur [at] gmail [dot] com or on X at @Lauren_Lifke.
