NAHJ 2025 Conference Playbook: ¡Bienvenidos a Chicago!
| ¡Buenos días, NAHJ familia! Welcome to the NAHJ 41st Conference and Expo – live from the Windy City! We hope you can make the most of this experience and dive into this year’s theme, “Stronger Together: Journalism, Community, and the Power of Truth.” We’re thrilled to have you here as we kick off a week filled with powerful storytelling, networking and career building. Wesley J. Pérez Vidal and Morelys Urbano are your hosts for today’s newsletter! We and other student journalists are doing our part to keep you informed and give you all the behind-the-scenes scoops. Whether it’s your first conference or not, there’s something here for everyone. Let’s start with an important topic that’s on many of our minds… As more than 1,500 Latino journalists gather for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), fear grows among some attendees over ICE raids taking place across the country. Conference attendee and DACA recipient Yunuen Bonaparte prepared for the possibility of detention even when packing for the conference. With the state of Illinois being a target of the mass deportation efforts and Homeland Security agents appearing regularly in nearby places, concerns about civil rights and safety have increased. Despite reassurance from NAHJ leaders, attendees are demanding more than professional training sessions this year. They want mental health support and legal aid. Luisana Ortiz has more. |
| A CENTURY OF IMPACT From his small finca in Luquillo, Puerto Rico, Don Andrés González Vega, World War II veteran and founding member of the National Puerto Rican Parade, is currently writing a book about his many life memories with the help of his daughter, Julia González. One of the last remaining veterans from the war, González Vega at 101 remembers his deployment to Panamá and the racial discrimination he faced in the city of New York. In his upcoming book, González Vega hopes to tell his inspirational story as a way to preserve the memories he narrates 80 years after the war. With his traditional Puerto Rican straw hat, Don Andrés proudly continues his legacy, founding the Coconut Festival and being a defender of Boricua culture. Sharing his story en español with Wesley J. Pérez Vidal, Don Andrés has not finished telling his tales just yet. |
| A DEEPER CONNECTION Alex Weid, raised in a non-denominational Christian home, began questioning his faith as he matured, sensing something was missing despite consistently identifying as a Christian. His journey reflects a broader trend as the Catholic Church in the U.S. is experiencing a resurgence following the election of Pope Leo XIV, who was born and raised right here in Chicago. Learn more about Alex’s renewed excitement about his faith from Paul C. Fisher. |
| BANNED BOOKS Conservative efforts to ban books have taken root in states such as Georgia, where school districts and libraries have begun removing books featuring LGBTQ+ characters and themes. But independent bookstores have emerged as cultural sanctuaries. “I would’ve been a fraction of who I am today if I hadn’t had access to those books,” said Robert Stradford, reflecting on the literature that offered him a lens into the queer Black experience. Morelys Urbano explores how these bookstores are finding new ways to bring banned books to the public, including inviting customers to buy them as gifts for students to make sure they have access to books they can connect with. |
| MIGHTY MURALS In the heart of Chicago, Latino muralists are telling the story of migration, identity and culture in Little Village, a neighborhood on the southwest side of the city shaped by generations of immigrants. Their work features a variety of characters, such as literal green aliens, depicting stories of family separation, and more. Led by DACA recipient Juan Manuel Cortina, the artists are reclaiming spaces amidst the pressure of gentrification and ICE raids, painting murals that open a conversation for understanding and reflection. “This is our protest against ICE: our immigration, murals and our culture,” Cortina said. Check out the vibrant Chicago murals in this piece from Araceli Ramirez. |
| HEARD IN THE HALLS @ NAHJ We asked attendees on the first official day of the conference what they’re most excited about, and what they hope to learn or gain from this experience.  Sarah Guerreo Gorostieta is the only Latina student journalist at Kalamazoo College in Michigan. WESLEY J. PEREZ VIDAL/THE LATINO REPORTERAs a student from a small journalism program at my college, I’m very excited to learn how to expand into multimedia. From networking, summer, and seasonal opportunities. Especially because everybody here seems very passionate about uplifting the Latino community, and as intimidating as networking is, I feel very supported in this environment. I’m here alone, and I don’t have any other students from my school. I think I’m the only Latina reporter at my college. So I’m looking forward to connecting with other Latino student journalists or journalists, and just having conversations about what journalism is like across the country, and building those relationships so I don’t feel so alone, and NAHJ has helped me to go through that.  Emilio Ramos, who has been a reporter at Telemundo Orlando for nine years, attends the NAHJ’s Conference and Expo. WESLEY J. PEREZ VIDAL/THE LATINO REPORTERWhat excites me most is seeing the students, who are hungry to take on the world, especially in this field of communications. Seeing the preparedness with which they come to talk to us, who are already in the field, ready to grab a camera, a microphone and practice journalism. For someone who has been in this field for 10 years and needs an infusion of energy, students are truly inspiring, and we should help them in the process. Sometimes we’re so focused on the journal that talking about what we do and sharing advice is a two-way street. They come away with good advice, you leave with more energy, and we continue to do good journalism. This week, we’re here to talk about the process of making the documentary “Our Planet: Voices of Climate Change.” We have a panel where we’ll discuss the editorial aspect and how productions need to evolve to cover all these platforms and make documentaries in Spanish for Hispanic audiences.  Maria Palma who’s a news reporter for KUNR in Reno, Nevada, attends the NAHJ’s Conference and Expo. MORELYS URBANO/THE LATINO REPORTER I’m really excited about connecting with other fellow Hispanic journalists. This is my first time attending this conference, so I’m super excited. I already met a couple of people that are really like-minded and I have also had the chance to have interviews and really nice talks with some big media companies like NBC, people from really good universities, so I’m super excited to be networking and also meeting new people. I’m hoping to gain more friends, experience, to hopefully bring knowledge to my station and all the students that we have there so I can share what I have learned. |
CAN’T MISS @ THE CONFERENCE
- If you’re an early bird, get up, throw on your gym shoes and join the NAHJ Cares Morning Walk! Led by a Health & Fitness Ambassador, you can enjoy Chicago’s scenic lakeside downtown view and connect with fellow conference attendees. Meet the group in the Hilton Chicago’s lobby at 7 a.m.
- Connect with recruiters, universities, and professional organizations starting at 9 a.m. on the Hilton’s Lower Level. Remember to bring your best attitude, outfits and energy! More info here
- ¡¡¡AZUCAR!!! Come enjoy the rhythm and sazón of the Afro-Latino Task Force in a joyful evening of dance, networking and community at the NBC Chicago Tower at 5:30 p.m.
- Do you perrea solx? The LGBTQIA+ Task Force and Advisory Committee is hosting PERREODISMO NIGHT, a once-in-a-conference queer mixer, starting at 7 p.m. and going into the wee hours of the morning. DON’T MISS the complimentary drinks and food for the first 80 guests!
To see what other sessions are being offered this year, visit the conference schedule online or download the NAHJ conference app for easier access to the schedule.
The Latino Reporter is a news website sponsored by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists that features journalism independently produced by student reporters tasked with covering the organization and its annual conference. Meet the Latino Reporter 2025 staff!
