Posted by Elena del Valle on June 29, 2006
Lunch panelists Ray Suarez, Rev. David Beckmann, Lou Dobbs, Jorge Castañeda, and The Honorable Bill Richardson
Photos: Elena del Valle and Melissa Gonzalez
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) hosted its 24th annual Convention and Media Career Expo in Fort Lauderdale, Florida recently. More than 1,400 print, broadcast and online media representatives from across the country attended eighty workshops and seminars and took advantage of networking opportunities during the four days of the event.
Several of the presentations, including a day long workshop and a luncheon, one of the events with the highest attendance, focused on immigration issues. Ray Suarez moderated “The Great American Immigration Debate” with panelists Rev. David Beckmann, president, Bread for the World; Lou Dobbs, anchor and managing editor CNN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight; Jorge Castañeda, professor New York University, and The Honorable Bill Richardson, governor, New Mexico.
There were sessions in English and Spanish on dealing with stress, changes in media, photojournalism, and even the downfalls of using Spanglish, a blending of English and Spanish. Speakers and panelists ranged from network executives to newspaper columnists. Maria Elena Salinas, an Emmy-award winning anchor of Noticiero Univision, and Henry Alfaro, a newscaster and founding member of the California Chicano News Media Association, were inducted into the NAHJ Hall of Fame.
Maria Elena Salinas
Immigration reform was a constant theme throughout the Convention. Sometimes with so much emphasis the topic took over the seminar. This was the case in “Missing the Mark: Newsroom Diversity In a Time of Latino Activism” where Chicano activist Juan Jose Gutierrez called immigrant workers modern day slaves.
Panelists of the all-day workshop “Immigration-A Hand’s on Workshop for Better Coverage in Your Community”
A controversial interview took place via satellite with Ricardo Alarcon the president of the Cuban National Assembly. Among the topics discussed was the treatment of journalists in the communist nation.
The convention included a Media Career Expo where sponsors had booth space. Media represented in the exhibit space included South Florida newspapers the Sun Sentinel and The Miami Herald as well as national media such as ESPN and National Public Radio. — Melissa Gonzalez contributed to this article.
Posted by Elena del Valle on June 27, 2006
Yvonne Latty, author and NAHJ panelist
Photo: Andrea Cipriani
On Friday, June 16, a panel of journalists, anti-war activists, and Iraqi veterans voiced their concern for the media coverage of the Iraqi war and offered suggestions to improve the coverage of individual soldiers, particularly Hispanics, in the workshop “Through the Looking Glass: Latinos in the Iraqi war.” The panel was held during the National Association of Hispanics Journalists convention held at Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.
Art Ruson, anchor for KTRK-TV, was panel moderator. Also on the panel were Yvonne Latty, author of In Conflict: Iraq War Veterans Speak Out on Duty, Loss, and the Fight to Stay Alive; Curt L. Brownhill, Air Force Command chief master sergeant, United States Central Command; Jorge Medina, an anti-war activist who lost his son in the war; Camilo Mejia, former National Guard sergeant and conscientious objector to the war; and Juan Rodriguez, sergeant. They discussed the media’s emphasis on negative issues and the failure to focus on stories that could help people learn more about the purpose of Latino soldiers.
“A lot of people view Hispanics as undocumented immigrants with what’s going on in the media,” said Rodriguez following the workshop. “I would say (of) those who go to Iraq, 50 percent or more of those are Latinos. I think along with everything else you get labeled and it’s important to look closer because a lot of Hispanics are joining military because we are proud warriors and its part of our culture.”
During the workshop, the panelists discussed the lack of media coverage for Latino soldiers and their impression that because of it the public has differentiated Latino soldiers even though they were just as focused as any troop in Iraq. Panelists also mentioned that many stories were overlooked. Medina commented that media outlets didn’t do as much as they could to cover his son’s death.
The speakers also discussed war exaggerations, fabrications, and the notion that negative issues sell much more for the media. According to some of the panelists, this notion has created anxiety and frustrations for them, especially for Latty who was bashed by some media during her book tour. The presenters expressed their concern that the media’s focus may have prompted people to view these soldiers as villains; and their belief that many soldiers want the war to end. The closing thoughts for the workshop involved the panelists’ suggestions for ways to improve Hispanic soldier related coverage.
“There are so many stories in our neighborhood,” said Latty. “Go and interview them because I feel like Vietnam; vets may be seen as the bad guys.” Following the discussion, Latty provided ways to give a voice to Latinos. “Those who are coming home, we have to see who’s Latino and not be judgmental. Latino journalists should look into the community.” — Sergio Carmona
Posted by Elena del Valle on June 23, 2006
Little Soledad from “Soledad is Gone Forever”
Photo: Ron Koeberer
San Francisco, California – Haiku Films Producer and Director Mabel Valdiviezo will hold a benefit party, silent auction and sneak preview of the short film “Soledad Is Gone Forever” Friday, June 23 at 6 p.m. at the Cultural Center of the New College of California, 766 Valencia Street at 19th. The event is endorsed and supported by the School of Humanities of the New College of California and is sponsored by the Film Arts Foundation.
“We’re completing the shots and once it’s done we’ll be sending it to some of the festivals,” said Valdiviezo. “The goal to make the short film is to show the potential of the feature story.”
“Soledad Is Gone Forever,” a 14-minute film, is described by promoters as “a spellbinding, poetically haunting, psychological drama that explores the long-term human cost of state sponsored violence.”
Based on real accounts, the film is an intimate portrait of a young photographer, Soledad Gonzalez (Carla Ohana Sanchez), a child survivor of the Pinochet era. She witnessed the violent death of her father killed by the Chilean military twenty years ago and erased them from her memory. Through the film viewers follow Soledad’s journey filled with recurring visions and nightmares and her struggle to remain sane until she remembers her traumatic childhood.
Proceeds from the benefit will help fund the completion of the short film to be submitted to local and national film festivals. These contributions will also support the developing phase of the feature-length version of “Soledad Is Gone Forever.”
The silent auction will include a selection items from artists Carlos Cartagena, Martine Jardel, Ricardo Cartagena, Susana Aragon, Caleb Duarte, Indira Urrutia and Diallo John H. Jones. The auction will be followed by live music performed by Maria Loreto & Los Materos, Lalo Izquierdo, and Marina Lavalle & Rennea. Event sponsors are the New College of California, Le Beau Market, Rainbow Groceries, Conqueror Pisco, as Kodak, Spy Post and Outpost.
Valdiviezo, principal of Haiku Films, is a Peruvian born writer, director and producer of short films such as “The Water’s Muse” and “A Box Full Of Mirrors.” For information online, SoledadIsGoneForever.com
Posted by Elena del Valle on June 22, 2006
Enlace Yellow Pages in Spanish
Photo: Enlace
Louisville, Kentucky — Enlace Spanish Yellow Pages, one of the nation’s largest independent Spanish language directory companies (based on number of cities served), acquired Las Super Páginas Amarillas, an independent New York City area Spanish Yellow Pages directory. The directory, which targets the second largest Hispanic market in the United States, has grown exponentially over the last seven years.
The New York City directory covers the five boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Staten Island as well as parts of Long Island, Westchester, Rockland, New Jersey and Connecticut. Acquisition benefits include a Manhattan based sales force and Enlace resources.
“Enlace now reaches over 19 million Hispanics across the country. This coverage includes four out of the top five largest Hispanic markets and seven of the top ten fastest growing Hispanic markets. No other Spanish language publisher offers this type of coverage,” said Jonathan Blue, managing director, Blue Equity, LLC, Enlace’s parent entity.
To further its promotional reach Enlace recently signed an endorsement agreement with SFX and Alex Aragon, an emerging PGA golfer from Mexico City. Aragon wears the Enlace logo on the lapel of his shirt. He is the second Hispanic athlete to participate in a sponsorship deal with Enlace. Earlier this year, Enlace launched billboard campaigns in Sacramento, California and Louisville, Kentucky that showcased Francisco Garcia, the Sacramento Kings NBA rookie from the Dominican Republic.
Established in December 2003, Enlace publishes 24 Spanish language directories in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas. Enlace has become one of the fastest growing Spanish Yellow Pages publisher.
Enlace is a division of Cobalt Publishing, LLC, a subsidiary of Blue Equity, LLC. For information online visit ElEnlaceLatino.com. Blue Equity is a leading independent, regional, private equity firm based in Louisville, Kentucky.
Posted by Elena del Valle on June 15, 2006
Frank Ovaitt, president and CEO, Institute for Public Relations
Photos: Institute for Public Relations, State Farm
The Institute for Public Relations Issues recently issued a request for proposals and is offering grants to encourage new research about diversity, including Hispanic oriented practice, and public relations. The organization expects proposals to be submitted by educators, graduate students, and working professionals interested in diversity and public relations.
“This research program will focus on the science beneath the art of relationships with diverse constituents, communicating with diverse audiences, through diverse means, to support the value of diversity,” said Frank Ovaitt, president and CEO, Institute for Public Relations.
Funded by an initial contribution from ConAgra Foods, Inc., the Institute is seeking proposals from scholars and professionals for grant awards of $1,000 to $10,000 to fund studies in this area. The online application form and more information can be found at Instituteforpr.org.
Mike Fernandez, vice president, Corporate Communications & External Relations, State Farm Insurance
“Public relations is fundamentally about managing relationships for institutions, and how we identify and communicate with diverse groups is critical to success,” said Michael Fernandez, a trustee of the Institute who was previously senior vice president and chief communications officer, ConAgra Foods, and is now vice president, corporate Communications & External Relations, State Farm Insurance. “But the core notion of diversity itself is different and changing. This will have profound implications for the messages we craft and the public relations tools we use for years to come. The goal of this research effort is to make sure that the profession is adequately prepared to meet the challenges ahead.”
The Institute defines itself as an “independent nonprofit foundation dedicated to the science beneath the art of public relations, that exists “to build and document research-based knowledge in the field of public relations, and to mainstream this knowledge into practice.”
Posted by Elena del Valle on June 6, 2006
Fredy Wiles, Terra, senior producer, interviewing Mexican soccer player Cuahetemoc Blanco
Photo: Terra.com
Coral Gables, Florida – Terra.com leveraged the journalistic collaboration of Terra Networks’ regional sites to create a bilingual (English and Spanish) World Cup 2006 tournament website, Alemania 2006, focusing on the road to Berlin. Promoters describe it as “the largest, most complete site.”
They promise recaps of the Elimination Round, more than 2,000 photos detailing the history of previous World Cups and live reporting from Terra.com’s 10 international online correspondents. Website visitors can obtain team stats, calendars, team standings, videos, country information, a German travel special and advanced wireless features like mobile ring tones, scores, and alerts.
Additionally, soccer fans who follow the tournament online can receive minute-by-minute match coverage in Spanish and English, Terra TV (video-on-demand) including four original exclusive videos per day from Germany, online games, photo galleries, forums and blogs.
“Terra Networks’ journalistic collaboration offers World Cup fans unparalleled in-depth coverage and is a prime example of the Internet’s ability to reach a mass audience,” stated Fernando Rodriguez, CEO, Terra. “The Internet is fast becoming the media of choice for avid sports fans. Anyone with a browser and connectivity can actively partake.”
Terra.com served as the official site for the Copa Oro and offers fan clubs for Spanish teams, Barcelona and Real Madrid. Terra also features the teams and games of the Fútbol Mexicano, Copa Libertadores de America, and Copa Europa.
According to Terra executives, World Cup 2006 is set to reach an estimated 3 million spectators attending 64 matches that will be played in the German cities of Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and Hannover. Millions are expected to follow the games on television, radio and online.
Terra Networks is an Internet group with a presence in the U.S. and Latin America operating websites in the United States, Spain and Latin America, and is among the largest access providers in Spain and Latin America. Terra.com is the U.S. Hispanic arm of the Terra Networks. Visit Terra.com for the Spanish website and Terra.com/shared for the English version.
Posted by Elena del Valle on May 26, 2006
Lantigua Designs’ Chef Rodriguez cards
Photos: Chef Rodriguez and Lantigua Designs
Lantigua Designs, Inc. and Chef Douglas Rodriguez developed a new line of Spanish language greeting cards which feature caricatures of the chef, some of his most popular recipes, and catchy Spanish dichos, which means sayings in Spanish. Inspired by Chef Rodriguez’s Latin cuisine, Lantigua Designs created two lines of greeting cards: Consejos del Chef (Spanish for chef’s advice) and Sabor Latino, (Spanish for Latin Flavor). A percentage of the proceeds from the Chef Rodriguez line will be donated to the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families of New York City.
“As a long-time fan of Chef Rodriguez’s cooking, I am thrilled to be working with him on this new greeting card line. We are both proud of our Hispanic heritage and it is reflected in our individual work, as well as through this joint effort,” said Liz Lantigua, president, Lantigua Designs.
Chef Douglas Rodriguez
“The flavor of the Latin community is not only found in our food but in our humor, family traditions and music, all of which are conveyed in these distinct cards,” said Chef Rodriguez. “It’s another way of send a greeting with lots of sabor!”
Chef Douglas Rodriguez is the son of Cuban immigrants and was raised in Miami. He grew up with the sights, smells, and tastes of Cuban-American cuisine and developed a passion for food early on in his life. In 1989, he opened his first restaurant named Yuca, a Cuban style restaurant in Coral Gables. He won the “Chef of the Year, Miami” recognition from the Chefs of America just before moving to New York. In 1994, Chef Rodriguez became the executive chef and co-owner of restaurant Patria. After Patria, he opened Chicama, a Peruvian ceviche bar, and Pipa, a Tapas bar. In 1996, he received the James Beard Foundation’s Rising Star Chef of the Year Award.
Chef Rodriguez, now residing in Miami, oversees four restaurants. The two in South Florida are OLA Miami and OLA Steak & Tapas. In Philadelphia he owns Alma de Cuba and in Scottsdale, Arizona he owns Deseo. He is also the author of Nuevo Latino, Latin Ladles, Latin Flavors on the Grill, and The Great Ceviche Book.
Lantigua Designs specializes in Spanish language, Latin-themed and bilingual greeting cards that appeal to Hispanics living in the United States. It first introduced its line of cards in April 2005 to retailers in the South Florida region. For more information online, visit ChefDouglas.com and LantiguaDesigns.com . — Gabrielle Sarnese.
Posted by Elena del Valle on May 16, 2006
Arroba de Oro award
Photo: Arroba de Oro
Miami, Florida – Since 2001, Arroba de Oro has held a contest in Latin America to recognize web sites that best contribute to the development of the Internet industry in the region. Arroba de Oro is Spanish for gold “@” symbol. This year, Arroba de Oro in conjunction with Univision Online will expand the contest to include Spanish language websites in the United States for the first time. The goal is to honor companies, organizations and individuals that serve the U.S. Hispanic market in Spanish via their web sites.
According to the award organizers, 40 percent of Hispanics access the Internet from home. Arroba de Oro, which was originally established in El Salvador, hopes to strengthen and highlight Hispanic Internet penetration by showcasing the web sites that actively target this market through Spanish-language programming and features.
Creativity, design, content, and the ability to identify with the U.S. Hispanic Spanish speaking community are some of the factors the Arroba de Oro contest will consider when granting its awards on August 18 in a gala ceremony in Miami.
Web sites can register free by May 20 in the following 13 categories: Government and Non Government Organizations, Art, Culture and Tradition, Clubs and Sports Associations, Gastronomy, Humor, Online Newspapers, Personal Web Pages, Professional Services, Religion and Spirituality, Hotel, Tourism and Restaurants, Educational Institutions, Corporate Sites and Fan Clubs.
A jury of 50 members from 17 countries, will certify the winners of each category after registered voters cast their electronic ballots online. During the ceremony winners will receive awards that include Best Design, Best Home Page, and Most Online Votes and take home $75,000 in cash and prizes. More information is available online at ArrobadeOro.com
Posted by Elena del Valle on May 15, 2006
Nancy Hernandez, president and founder, Abrazo Multicultural Marketing
Photos: Abrazo Multicultural Marketing, Multicultural Marketing Resources, Inc.
The University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee-IDEAL (Institute for Diversity Education & Leadership) got a taste of multicultural marketing when it held the New York University based course “Marketing to the New Majority: How to Reach the Multicultural Consumer” for the first time on May 5 with a successful turnout. Multicultural marketing experts, including two Hispanic guest speakers, provided overviews of different marketing groups. They discussed trends, methods, and approaches for the 35 registered participants, most of them marketing professionals or nonprofessionals looking to get a grasp on the subject.
“There were more people registered than anticipated. The speakers were well-received. There was good feedback and a high level of presentation and interaction with the class,” said Lisa Skriloff, president, Multicultural Marketing Resources, Inc., and instructor for the course.
Lisa Skriloff, president, Multicultural Marketing Resources, Inc.
One of the popular discussions was “Hispanic Market Overview, Hispanic Marketing through a Business Lens” presented by Nancy Hernandez, president and founder of Abrazo Multicultural Marketing. Rick Aguilar, president, Aguilar Productions, talked about Hispanic conferences and festivals.
Hernandez has a master’s degree in International Business from Marquette University and more than ten years of marketing experience. During the presentation, she shared past experiences and explained the reasons marketers and advertisers are reaching this market and why they should. She also discussed ways to reach the market through campaigns and case studies.
“A lot of success hinges on the approach; about how to approach the task of multicultural marketing and build campaigns that fit the company at that time,” said Hernandez.
Other topics covered during the course were Asian Pacific American and African American markets and multicultural markets in the Midwest and in the Twin Cities. Presenters discussed how to develop marketing strategies through advertising, public relations, direct marketing, and event marketing to different ethnic groups.
The course was developed at New York University which held a similar two-day course the previous weekend. The success of the original course at New York University inspired the course at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee IDEAL which is considering offering another session. —Sergio Carmona
Posted by Elena del Valle on May 10, 2006
Presenters Elena del Valle, MBA and Federico Subervi, Ph.D
Presenters Dora O. Tovar, MPA and Michele Valdovinos
Boca Raton, FL – HispanicMPR.com, a forum for the exchange of information and ideas on Hispanic marketing and public relations, launched a Resources Section featuring its eponymous book and the first ever series of downloadable audio recordings on Latinos and how to reach them effectively with marketing and public relations tools. Resource product prices range from $49.95 for the Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations book to $129.95 for two recorded presentations in a CD set. Details are available online at HispanicMPR.com
Initial offerings include presentations by experts and leaders in the field. Michele Valdovinos, vice president of research and marketing, Phoenix Cultural Access Group, and co-author of a chapter titled “A Snapshot of the U.S. Hispanic Market” and Elena del Valle, MBA, principal, LNA World Communications, and editor of the Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations book present “Hispanic Market Overview.” Dora O. Tovar, MPA, president, Tovar Public Relations, and contributing author of the “Hispanic Public Relations and Its Emergence as an Industry” chapter presents “The Next Step: Secondary Latino Markets.” Federico Subervi, Ph.D., professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Texas State University-San Marcos and co-author of the “Latino Media: A Cultural Connection” chapter and del Valle, contributing author of the “Cultural Understanding Key to Effective Media Training” chapter present “Latino Media and Hispanic Media Training.”
Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations book cover
Started as a weblog for the Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations book, HispanicMPR.com provides a place for readers and authors of the book, subscribers and visitors to connect, discover the latest Hispanic market news and updates and listen to expert interviews and presentations in an audio podcast downloadable format. Visitors may listen to podcasts on the podcast announcement page and the website’s audio player which appear under the heading “Podcast” or download them for convenient listening on their MP3 or iPod players.
The Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations book provides 435 pages of information, case studies, graphics, market data and opinions based on the experiences of nineteen U.S. Hispanic market experts. Seventeen practitioners and two university academics, contributed fifteen chapters to the book, which benefits the Hispanic Marketing & Communication Association (HMCA), a volunteer driven nonprofit professional association dedicated to Hispanic marketing excellence. For details on the book, visit HispanicMPR.com
