FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2018
NAHJ President cautious over Nexstar – Tribune announcement; National Board to discuss this week
Washington, D.C. – President Hugo Balta of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), expressed skepticism early Monday morning over impact of the newly announced Nexstar – Tribune Media deal. If successful, the merger would allow for Nexstar to become the largest US TV station operator. The immediate concerns are focused on a potential negative impact for the employment and opportunity of journalists of color, widely diminishing conditions that ensure any progression of newsroom diversity and inclusion.
Nexstar’s acquisition would come just three months after Tribune’s $3.9 billion deal to sell itself to Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Historically, the large media acquisitions have meant a far less number of dedicated reporters in the community and taken a toll on the localism of content and coverage. In the perspective of public interest and communities the media serves, a legitimate concern has been recognized in minimized opportunity for people of color in entrepreneurial journalism. While mergers may be defined by opportunity, for others it also has meant cuts; people of color are often the first laid off when mergers happen.
“Our national board will discuss this announcement in our meeting later this week,” said Balta. “In a time when local news is needed more than ever, we must decide how we can move forward in the best interest of a diverse and independent press.”
NAHJ has always stood against media consolidation. The association believes communities benefit from a diverse group of media owners, news coverage representing all communities and circumstances that create the most employment opportunity for our journalists,
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About NAHJ The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is the largest organization of Latino journalists in the United States and dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. The mission of NAHJ is to increase the number of Latinos in the newsrooms and to work toward fair and accurate representation of Latinos in news media. Established in April 1984, NAHJ created a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists. NAHJ has approximately 2,500 members, including working journalists, journalism students, other media-related professionals and journalism educators. For more information please visit NAHJ.org or follow on Twitter @NAHJ.
Media Contact:
BA Snyder
Veritas Group for NAHJ
512.630.6337
[email protected]