Pete Moraga
1926-2003
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The members, board of directors and staff of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists wish to convey our deepest condolences to the family of Pete Moraga, a long-time colleague whose work opened doors for many Latino journalists and helped give Hispanic communities a stronger voice in our society.
Mr. Moraga, 77, passed away on Saturday in Mesa, Arizona. His work was honored and recognized in 2001 by his colleagues across the country when he was inducted to the NAHJ Hall of Fame in Phoenix, Arizona.
Pete Moraga will be remembered as a pioneering journalist who paved the way for a new generation of Latino journalists during a fifty-plus year professional career. Born and raised in Tempe, Arizona, Pete dedicated his career to improving the image of Hispanics in the media industry.
After graduating from the University of Arizona in 1949, Pete became a member of the original staff of KIFN in Phoenix, the state’s first all-Spanish language radio station.
In 1957, he was hired by the Latin American division of the Voice of America before joining the Foreign Service in 1961. There he served as an assistant press attache at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. In 1967, he became the press attache at the U.S. Embassy in Peru.
In 1969, Pete joined the staff of KNX-CBS Radio in Los Angeles as a writer, reporter, editor and weekend anchor before working an 18-month stint with KMEX-TV in Los Angeles following the death of Rubén Salazar in 1970. He returned to the station in 1981 as the news director and began providing weekly commentary on KCBS-TV in 1987. A year later, he returned to KNX before retiring in 1992.
Many Latinos in journalism today owe a debt of gratitude to Pete for breaking new ground at a time when so few of our voices were heard. He was a great mentor and an inspiration to those who were fortunate enough to know him both in and out of the newsroom.
Today we remember Pete and continue to be inspired by his life. NAHJ extends its thoughts and prayers to his wife Gloria and his family.
