CAUCUS CONCERNED:

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has sent NBC a letter calling on the network not to obstruct those Telemundo workers who would attempt to learn more about being represented by the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

The letter also calls on NBC to honor the request of nine on-air employees at the Telemundo station in Chicago to being represented by AFTRA.

"We call on NBC to allow new employees...to learn about all aspects of union representation in an environment conducive to open and thorough dialogue. It is our understanding that in Los Angeles and Chicago, union representation is automatically available to NBC's English-language on-air talent. NBC's new Spanish-language on-air talent in these locations should not feel that they are risking their careers or their immigration status for voicing a similar interest in union representation."

NBC purchased Telemundo this past year for $2.7 billion.

NAHJ PLAN: The National Association of Hispanic Journalists' board of directors adopted Oct. 19 a strategic plan that calls on the news industry to increase dramatically the employment of Latino journalists during the next five years.

NAHJ will work with the industry to double the percentage of Latinos employed by daily newspapers from its current 3.8% to 7.6% and to boost the percentage of Latinos working for local English-language television stations from 6.1% to 9.0% by 2008.

NAHJ will identify cities with significant Latino populations where Latinos are underrepresented in the newsrooms of local media outlets. In those cities, it will offer to work jointly with existing print and broadcast media, area journalism schools, foundations and Latino community leaders to develop comprehensive model programs that will increase Latino newsroom presence and influence.

"NAHJ is sending a clear signal to the industry that we will no longer sit patiently while media companies increase hiring Latinos at a snail's pace," said President Juan González.