WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the Belo Foundation have selected 10 NAHJ members to participate in a week-long (Aug. 2 through Aug. 9) Hispanic Media Leadership Training Program in Mexico. The program is funded by the Belo Foundation.
Fifty-seven applicants applied for the week-long program which is divided into two phases. The first phase begins in Mexico City, where NAHJ members will interview key government officials, the heads of think tanks and members of media to learn more about issues facing Mexico in the aftermath of the country’s July 2 presidential election.
During the second phase, fellows will travel to Puerto Vallarta to take part in the fourth annual summit of the Partners in the Americas. The three-day summit will bring together approximately 50 reporters, editors and publishers from Mexico, the United States and Central America to discuss current media issues affecting all three regions.
"The best reporting about today's complex world will come from the best-prepared journalists," said Burl Osborne, publisher of The Dallas Morning News. "We are very pleased to participate in the kind of training that will make journalistic efforts more meaningful and therefore more valuable to our readers and viewers and our communities."
"This program is in response to the frequent requests made by mid-career members who want the NAHJ to provide more career advancement and training opportunities," said NAHJ President Cecilia Alvear. "It will not only help many move into management, but it will also allow our members to interact and exchange views with journalists from Latin American countries.
"I want to thank Burl Osborne (publisher of The Dallas Morning News) Michael Zamba (Belo’s director of international development), Gilbert Bailon (vice president and executive editor of The Dallas Morning News) and Anna Lopez (NAHJ’s executive director) for their efforts in making this program possible," Alvear added.
Judges in the selection process were Marie Arana, editor of the Washington Post’s Book World, Michael Zamba, director of international development for Belo, Charles Ericksen, editor and publisher of Hispanic Link Weekly Report and Deborah Durham, Washington bureau chief for Univision.
The NAHJ members selected for the week-long fellowship are:
Hilda Garcia Villa, content developer, America Online
Jo Ann Zuniga, news reporter, Houston Chronicle
Ysabel Duron, anchor/reporter, KRON TV 4 (San Francisco)
Nina Alvarez, producer, ABC News (Miami)
Deborah Ramirez, editorial writer, The Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale)
Teresa Puente, staff writer, Chicago Tribune
Maria Martin, executive producer, Latino USA
Evelyn Hernandez, Census 2000 editor, El Diario-La Prensa (New York City)
Alfredo Carbajal-Madrid, editor, La Prensa (Riverside, Calif.)
Rosa Morales, independent TV producer, assistant editor, Mi Gente magazine (Saginaw, Mich.)
The NAHJ, founded in 1984, is dedicated to the recognition and professional development of Hispanics in the newsroom.
