Hispanic Digital and Print Media Conference

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 11, 2007

Hispanic Digital and Print Media Conference

October 11, 2007
New York, New York
http://www.latinvision.com/portada/

New Deal Productions releases Latino themed movie August 24

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 10, 2007

The DeLeon family in “Illegal Tender”

Photo: New Deal Productions  

New Deal Productions will release a new film, shot in New York and Puerto Rico in only 28 days, about a young Latino man and his mother who flee from their home when the gang thugs who killed his father come looking for him, August 24, 2007. Cast members include Rick Gonzalez, Wanda De Jesus, Dania Ramirez, Tego Calderon, Manny Perez, and Gary Perez. The action drama was written by Franc Reyes (“Empire”) and produced by Reyes and John Singleton (“Four Brothers,” “Hustle & Flow”).

Wilson De Leon, Jr. (Rick Gonzalez) a university student, and his mother Millie DeLeon (Wanda De Jesus) must face ghosts from the past, the men who killed the family patriarch. The R rated movie is two and a half hours long.

“I respect Franc. as a filmmaker,” said Singleton, who after seeing “Empire,” thought the two might one day collaborate. “I asked him what he was working on, and he told me about this story he had in his head.  I loved the idea because it was about a mother and son, and I’m always trying to explore human connections in my films.” 

“Latino Family Dynamics” audio recording

 Brenda Hurley and Liria Barbosa

Millie, described as a modern day heroine, is an educated upper-class widow, raising her college honors and elementary school student sons alone. She has made a comfortable new life by investing the fortune made by her husband, a drug dealer, 20 years earlier.

After a past acquaintance spots Millie she decides to relocate her family to avoid the killers coming after her family. This time, Wilson, her oldest son, decides to stay against his mother’s wishes. He survives an attack by the assassins determined to protect his family at all costs.

“Illegal Tender” includes music from Latin Hip Hop artist Tego Calderón. A native of Puerto Rico, Calderón gained recognition in the Latin music world in 2002 with the underground release of a remix collection entitled “El Abayarde.” In his music, he mixes rhythmic styles from the Caribbean, Latin and American hip-hop with salsa, dance hall, bomba, rumba and blues. 

Sentencing Project: Hispanics incarcerated almost twice as often as whites

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 9, 2007

Marc Mauer, executive director, The Sentencing Project

Photo: The Sentencing Project

According to a new report by The Sentencing Project, Hispanics are incarcerated twice as often as non Hispanic whites. The report, Uneven Justice: State Rates of Incarceration by Race and Ethnicity, examines the racial and ethnic dynamics of incarceration in the U.S., and identifies widespread variations in racial disparity in the 50 states. It indicates African Americans are incarcerated at almost six times the rate of whites and Hispanics at nearly double the rate of whites.

“What we’ve seen over the last decade is significant increase in the Hispanic population that’s incarcerated,” said Marc Mauer, executive director of The Sentencing Project. “This could reflect changes in crime rates by state or could reflect the way the government processes people.”

While men represent 97 percent of the general inmate population, among Latinos men represent 95 percent. At the same time, while Latinos correspond to 13 percent of the United States population, 20 percent of individuals incarcerated in state prisons, excluding non criminal immigration detainees, are Hispanic. The Latino population is generally young, especially when compared with America’s aging mainstream population. This may cause Hispanics to be represented in higher numbers among inmates.

“My guess is that is part of the explanation but it doesn’t account for all the increase,” said Mauer. “Racial disparities in incarceration reflect a failure of social and economic interventions to address crime effectively and also indicate racial bias in the justice system. The broad variation in the use of incarceration nationally suggests that policy decisions can play a key role in determining the size and composition of the prison population.”

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African Americans (24 percent) and Hispanics (23 percent) are well represented among inmates charged with drug crimes while non Hispanic whites only make up 14 percent of those inmates. Mauer explained these inmates are usually minor players who use and sell drugs but are seldom the decision making kingpins. As part of the analysis, researchers integrated the findings of previous studies. They included jail populations in the general incarceration rate and assessed the impact of incarceration on the Hispanic community, a group that represents an increasing portion of prisoners.      

The state figures for Hispanic incarceration also reveal broad variation nationally. Three states, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, have a Hispanic-to-white ratio of incarceration more than three times the national average. Research from the Department of Justice projects that if current trends continue; one in three black males and one in six Hispanic males born today will go to prison.

Incarceration rates for women, though lower, display similar racial and ethnic disparities. Following the report The Sentencing Project recommended that: legislators revise domestic drug control strategies which penalize a disproportionate number of low level offenders; revisit mandatory minimum sentencing requirements; establish standards for indigent defense to allow individuals with limited resources to receive quality representation; and require that future prison legislation include a Racial Impact Statement to anticipate projected consequences for persons of color.

Founded in 1986, The Sentencing Project is a national non profit organization working for a fair and effective criminal justice system by promoting reforms in sentencing law and practice, and alternatives to incarceration.

Terra relaunches travel channel with Travelocity, Google, Fodors tools, content

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 8, 2007

Photo: Terra Networks

Coral Gables, Florida – Terra Networks recently relaunched its Turismo (Travel) Channel, part of the original Terra offerings in 2000. Relying on Travelocity to power the searches and with content from Google and Fodors, the online portal plans to expand its advertising revenue by reaching the growing number of bilingual U.S. Hispanics hoping  they will book trips online.

“Given the propensity for Hispanics to travel, both domestically and internationally, for leisure and to maintain close ties with family and friends as well as the above average household income of the Hispanic Internet user, it’s not surprising that travel marketers are targeting Hispanic consumers online,” said Fernando Rodriguez, chief executive officer, Terra Networks.  

The company is relying on recent Hispanic market data that indicates Latinos like to travel. According to the Synovate U.S. Diversity Markets Report 2006, 48 percent of Hispanics enjoy traveling domestically, 61 percent like to travel to their country of heritage, and 32 percent enjoy traveling to other countries.

Target Latinos effectively by anticipating changes in the market with

“Hispanic Projections” – with 2007-08 updates audio recording

Presenter Roger Selbert, Ph.D.

Find out

Click here to buy “Hispanic Projections”

Through the revamped Travel channel Latino travelers can buy airline tickets and make hotel and car reservations. Users are able to share their experiences with others through reviews and tips. Although when we visited the site, almost all the content was in English, the portal plans to have content and services in the new travel channel in Spanish and English.        

According to promotional materials, the channel includes: Travelocity booking engine, Fodors destination guides for 300 cities/destinations, country fact sheets, 360 degree video tours of some hotels, Google interactive maps, lists of Top 10s, search capability, weather, currency converter, and a newsletter.

Terra advertisers on board for the Travel channel are Choice Hotels, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Continental Airlines, Rio Hotel and Casino, Tourism Boards of Spain, Florida, Mexico and Kissimmee. Terra Networks is a global Internet group with a presence in the U.S. and Latin America. The group operates websites in the United States, Spain and Latin America. Terra.com is the U.S. Hispanic arm of the Terra Networks group, providing a portal and services to Spanish speaking users.

Latino English Language Learners far behind in math, reading

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 7, 2007

Click on image to enlarge

Under the No Child Left Behind act English Language Learners (ELL) public school students must be proficient in reading and math by 2014. English Language Learners are students whose first language is not English. According to a report by the Pew Hispanic Center English Language Learners students lag far behind in reading and math. How many Hispanics are ELL students?

Although there doesn’t seem to be an exact number, an administrative count with little demographic information indicates in the 2003-04 school year there were 3.8 million ELL students. A more recent report, the 2005 American Community Survey, estimated that 9.4 million Hispanic students attended public school and 2.7 million public school students spoke English less than very well. Seventy percent of the limited English students were Hispanic; one in five Hispanic students spoke a language other than English at home and spoke English less than very well.

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National testing conducted in 2005 indicates that 46 percent of fourth grade ELL students scored in the lowest category possible in math; by eighth grade the scores had plummeted to 71 percent of ELL students in the lowest category possible. By eighth grade 71 percent of ELL students also scored in the lowest category possible in reading.    

The Pew Hispanic Center report is based on an analysis of standardized testing around the country. It indicates eighth grade ELL students are 50 percentage points behind whites in reading and math. In fourth grade, they are 35 percentage points behind in math and 47 percentage points behind in reading. 

The report also identifies significant gaps between the scores of ELL students and their black and Hispanic counterparts. An analysis of demographic data also explains why there is a decline in achievement among English Language Learners from elementary to middle school.

The Pew Hispanic Center, an initiative of the Pew Research Center, is a non-partisan, non-advocacy research organization based in Washington, D.C. The Pew Hispanic Center is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Listen to Songs – La Corporacion Muzic releases two new albums

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 6, 2007

 “Infinito Palmeras” from Mexican DJ producer Galapago

Photos: La Corporacion Muzic

Pasadena, California – Independent record label La Corporación Muzic recently released two new titles from the Nopalbeat Records catalog, “Musica Moderna” from DJ producers Sussie 4 (cuatro) and “Infinito Palmeras” from Mexican DJ producer Galapago. They are the second and third releases from the La Corporación Muzic/Nopalbeat Records deal.
“Musica Moderna” is described as a blend of chill out, lounge, jazz, house and trip hop music. “Infinito Palmeras,” an experimental project that fuses diverse rhythms and colors of Latin American music with tones of vanguard, combines house, lounge, funk, and hip hop with a touch of reggae and cumbia music.

Electronica and house music maker Sussie 4, made up of DJ producers Cesar Gudino and Odin Parada, was created in 1998 in Guadalajara, Mexico. They have performed in national festivals Techno Geist 2001, Union Fest 2001, Art 01, Mexican Electronics Festival, Beach MTV 2002, and Festival Rock To Park 2001 in Bogota, Colombia. Additionally, Sussie 4 has shared the stage with artist’s Bentley Rhythm Ace, Gus Gus, DJ Hell, Sven Väth, Deep Dish and Buscemi. “Musica Moderna” was originally released in Mexico in 2002. Galapago has played in Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, France and Spain.

La Corporación Muzic, based in Pasadena, California, is an independent record label that specializes in signing and developing Latino talent for the U.S. bilingual market with exclusive distribution by Navarre. Other titles released on La Corporación Muzic include Maxim! En Espanol Rockz, Latin Explosión and Peter Michael Escovedo Moments.

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“Hispanic Market Translation Issues” audio recording

Presenter Martha E. Galindo

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Rums of Puerto Rico sponsors El Cantante movie premier

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 3, 2007

Bottles of Puerto Rican rum

Photo: Rums of Puerto Rico

New York, New York — Rums of Puerto Rico was the spirit sponsor for the recent global premiere of the Picturehouse Productions movie “El Cantante” about singer Hector Lavoe starring Marc Anthony and Jennifer López.

“El Cantante” is the story of the Puerto Rican salsa singer Hector Lavoe (Anthony), his relationship with his wife, Nilda Ramón Pórez, known as Puchi (López), his skyrocket to international fame and the personal pain he faced toward the end of his life. The film was directed by Leon Ichaso (Piñero) and produced by Jennifer López, Julio Caro, Simon Fields and David Maldonado. It was written by Leon Ichaso, David Darmsteader and Todd Anthony Bello.

“Latino Family Dynamics” audio recording

 Brenda Hurley and Liria Barbosa

The Rums of Puerto Rico new cocktails, served for the first time at the three movie premieres, are: Capitan Lavoe, Murgariña, Che Che Cole, Todopoderoso, Bleu Lavoe, and La Gran Fuga. See complete recipes below.

• Capitan Lavoe, 1/2 oz. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, 1/2 oz. Captain Morgan Parrot Bay, 2 oz. guava juice and 2 oz. pineapple juice
• Murgariña, 1 1/2 oz. Don Q Limón, 1/2 oz. Don Q Cristal, 2 tbsp. sugar
• Che Che Cole, 1 oz. Captain Morgan Parrot Bay, 1/2 oz. Don Q Cristal, 1/2 oz. guava juice, 1 oz. pineapple juice and a splash of tonic
• Todopoderoso, 1 oz. Don Q Reserva Añejo, 1/2 oz. sour mix and splash of grenadine
• Bleu Lavoe, 1 1/4 oz. Bacardi Razz, 2 oz. sour mix, 2 oz. pineapple juice and 1/2 oz. blue Curaçao
• La Gran Fuga, 1/2 oz. Bacardi Peach Red, 1/2 oz. Bacardi Superior, 1 1/2 oz. pineapple juice and 1 oz. grenadine

MegaTV hires director of Music and Media Licensing

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 2, 2007

Deborah Von Brod, director of Music and Media Licensing, MegaTV

Photo: MegaTV

Miami, Florida – Mega TV WSBS-22, an affiliate of Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) appointed Deborah Von Brod director of Music and Media Licensing. Von Brod’s duties will include the licensing and authorizing of music content on MegaTV shows, websites, concerts, and special events. In the new position, she will be working closely with authors and publishers, American Society of Composers, BMI, and Society of European Stage Authors & Composers as well as managing contacts with Sony-BMG, EMI Music, Warner Music Latino, and Universal Music Group.

“Deborah Von Brod is a vital addition to MEGA TV,” said Cynthia Hudson, chief creative officer and executive vice president, SBS. “With her valuable experience as a producer and Senior Director for various music and recording projects, she has a unique expertise in planning, contract negotiation, event marketing, acquisitions, licenses, publications, and legal matters. Deborah will be an integral member of the team, and we welcome her to the SBS family.”

Previously, Von Brod worked on more than 20 variety shows for Sony-BMG Music, EMI and WEA Latina with Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Ricky Martin and Chayanne. In addition, Von Brod has also worked on 35 shows for Pepsi Music Latin America that aired in 14 different countries, 24 shows performed on 16 different cruise lines around the world and two biographical documentaries for The Discovery Channel Latin America and Iberia for which she received an Emmy nomination.

“Latino Family Dynamics” audio recording

 Brenda Hurley and Liria Barbosa

Find out

Recruiting Hispanic Respondents for Medical/Pharmaceutical Research Studies

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 1, 2007

By Chelsea Starr Ph.D.
Qualitative Research Manager, Phoenix Multicultural

Photo: Phoenix Multicultural

Some medical recruiting projects are more challenging for multicultural markets than for the general market. For diseases that are fairly common in the Latino community, like diabetes, your recruit may not be particularly challenging. But with a less common disease, for example a particular type of cancer, there are both cultural and practical aspects to be considered in the Hispanic market.

Click here to read the complete article

“A Snapshot of the U.S. Hispanic Market” audio recording

Presenter Michele Valdovinos, Phoenix Cultural Access Group

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