NAHJ Members: Vote now

Media contact: Iván Román, NAHJ Executive Director, (202) 662-7178 e-mail: iroman@nahj.org

Voting is now open in the 2008 NAHJ Electronic Election for eight National Officers, for Region 4 Director, and for two amendments to the NAHJ Bylaws. Regular, academic, student and lifetime members in good standing may vote on one or more of these ballots. All electronic votes must be cast by 2 p.m. EST on Friday, July 25, 2008.

All eligible voters, except students, will elect NAHJ members for National Officers and those in Region 4 may also vote in the Region 4 Director election. Students, and only students, will elect a non-voting Student Representative for the board. And all members in good standing are able to vote for the 2008 NAHJ Bylaws Amendments detailing the establishment and governance of chapters and changing the timing and procedures for the election of Regional Directors.

We encourage you to vote in these elections and help make NAHJ stronger. Your participation is another way to show your support for the organization’s programs, services and leadership.

To vote, please visit http://nahj.org/election

Your Log In is your Member ID (xxxxx) and your Last Name (LASTNAME) exactly as it appeared in your personalized email message from NAHJ regarding voting. (Last name EXAMPLES: de la Torre = de la Torre. O'Keefe = O'Keefe. Guillen-Diaz = Guillen-Diaz.) Once you log in, the electronic balloting system will give you an index listing the ballots for which you are eligible to vote.

If you prefer voting via paper ballot, please request a ballot immediately at ravila@nahj.org or by calling Membership Manager Rhadames Avila at 202-662-7460. You may also call him with questions regarding electronic voting.

All paper ballots must be received in the NAHJ office by July 17, 2008 at 5 p.m. EST.

Vote for only ONE candidate. If you'd rather write in the name of another candidate of your preference, please do so in the space provided.

To vote, your dues must have been paid and current by June 23, 2008.

NAHJ is governed by a 17-member Board of Directors that includes the NAHJ national officers. The nationally-elected officers serve two-year terms in even numbered years. The open board positions and the respective 2008 national candidates (plus write-ins) are listed below. For more detailed candidate biographies, candidate statements and to vote, visit http://nahj.org/election

Ballots close at 2 p.m. EST on Friday, July 25, 2008. The results will be tabulated and announced during the NAHJ Hall of Fame Gala and El Gran Baile that evening at the UNITY ’08 Convention in Chicago.

President

• Ricardo Pimentel

O. Ricardo Pimentel, 54, joined the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as editor of its editorial pages on June 24, 2004. He has been a reporter at The San Bernardino County Sun, The Fresno Bee, The San Diego Union, The Sacramento Bee and a Washington D.C. correspondent for McClatchy Newspapers, covering Congress, federal agencies and the U.S. Supreme Court. Ricardo has been an asst. metro editor at the Sacramento Bee; metro editor at the Fresno Bee; managing editor at both The Stockton Record and The Tucson Citizen; and executive editor at his hometown San Bernardino County Sun. He was a nationally syndicated columnist with The Arizona Republic, writing on public policy with an emphasis on Latino affairs. He is the author of two books of fiction “House with Two Doors” and “Voices from the River.” He has two children, Noah, 28, and daughter, Emily, 23.

“The period ahead will forge a different kind of news industry and will require a new kind of organization to prevent this industry from forgetting its conscience and its values. It will require an organization that can adapt so that it might continue advocating the important principles of diversity.” – Ricardo Pimentel

Vice President/Print

• Elizabeth Zavala

Liz Zavala is a native Texan, born and reared in San Antonio. She is a 1985 graduate of Texas Woman's University at Denton. She is deputy city editor for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Prior to rejoining the Star-Telegram, Ms. Zavala held various bureau editing positions at The Dallas Morning News while an assistant metro editor there from 2000 to 2007. Prior to joining The News, Ms. Zavala was assistant business editor at the Star-Telegram, where she spent 10 years in various editing positions. She helped the newspaper launch its Spanish-language newspaper, La Estrella, in 1994, and served as its editor for three years before moving to Business News. Ms. Zavala lives in Arlington, Texas.

“This is not the time for those passionate about journalism to give up. I certainly won’t. It is imperative that we fight the good fight. I am a marathoner. I have run four half marathons (13.1 miles each) and completed my first full marathon (26.2 miles) last year. I am currently training for another marathon in San Antonio, my hometown, in November. An endurance runner is not interested in speed, but in finishing the race. That’s how I view print journalism, something that I have done since I graduated from college in 1985. This is one marathon that I want to WIN, not just place, and I can’t do it without your support.” – Liz Zavala

Vice President/Broadcast

• Hugo Balta

Hugo Balta is the Vice President of News & News Director at WNJU Telemundo 47, the NBC Universal owned and operated station serving the New York metropolitan area. Under Mr. Balta’s leadership Telemundo 47 has produced the interactive segments “Sus Derechos” (Your Rights,) “Inmigracion Ahora” (Immigration Now) and “Su Dinero” (Your Money.) Prior to joining Telemundo 47, Balta worked as a producer at the NBC sister station, WTVJ, in Miami, at MSNBC and at WNBC in New York. He was assigned to the integration team assigned to Telemundo, fulfilling the role of Executive Producer of Special Projects during the merger between NBC and Telemundo. Following the merger, Balta was named Assistant News Director for Telemundo 47 in 2002.

“I strongly believe in NAHJ’s mission of providing Latino journalists with the necessary support to improve their skills to better inform, educate and empower our viewers, readers and listeners. The trust they award us is extraordinary and we must assertively live up to those expectations by giving the best that we have to give.” – Hugo Balta

• Manuel de la Rosa

Manuel “Manny” De La Rosa is a general assignments reporter for KIII-TV in Corpus Christi. He was elected as Vice President of Broadcast in the summer of 2006. He serves on the Awards Committee for the national organization. Prior to that, he served a year as the Region 5 Representative and served on the NAHJ Board from 2000-2002 as Region 8 Representative. De La Rosa, a native of Los Angeles, has more than 15 years of reporting experience during his career. He has worked in the Rio Grande Valley, TX, Victoria, Tx, Waco, Tucson, and Santa Maria, Ca. He also worked as an associate producer in the Los Angeles Bureau for Court TV from 1998 until 2000.

“For my next term, I’ll fight for journalists who are being mistreated and will stand up for them. I’ll respond to NAHJ members and work on getting more Latinos into decision making positions in the industry. I support retooling the Parity Project to help get more Latinos into newsrooms across the country. We must get our members multimedia training to help them prepare for the new era of journalism. I’ll advocate the group stays in good financial standing.” – Manuel de la Rosa

Financial Officer

• Dino Chiecchi

Dino Chiecchi is the editor of Hispanic publications for the San Antonio Express-News, overseeing the weekly bilingual publication, Conexión, and the all-Spanish, twice-a-week publication Cancha. Chiecchi returned to the Express-News in 2004, having previously worked at the paper from 1986-1999, holding several positions including Sunday editor, metro editor, business editor, assistant city editor and reporter. Prior to returning to the Express-News, Chiecchi worked at the Associated Press in Dallas as an editor and day supervisor. He's also worked at the Tucson Citizen as its assistant managing editor, and Austin American-Statesman, the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong and started his career at the El Paso Herald-Post in his hometown of El Paso, Texas.

“In addition to having served as NAHJ’s financial officer, I have been business editor at the San Antonio Express-News. I know my way around a balance sheet and understand our financial challenges. I can reliably interpret NAHJ’s financial condition, and offer trustworthy advice on how to steer the organization financially. The board’s challenge in the coming years will be to diversify NAHJ’s funding sources, all the while making sure we provide our student, professional and academic members with the services they need and expect.” – Dino Chiecchi

General At-Large Officer

• Brandon A. Benavides

Brandon is a news producer for KSTP-TV in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. Before moving to the Twin Cities, Brandon worked at KETK-TV in Tyler, TX. He was the Executive Producer and produced LIVE @ Five for the NBC affiliate. While in the National's Capitol, Brandon worked as an intern for the U.S. House of Representatives Radio-TV Gallery on Capitol Hill and "Dateline NBC" in the Washington Bureau. Brandon holds a master's of arts in journalism and public affairs degree from American University in Washington, D.C

“Our business is feeling the effects of the struggling economy. We've had layoffs and buyouts in major and small markets throughout the U.S. Now is the time to help veteran journalists find new jobs and develop the skills of journalists entering the field.” – Brandon A. Benavides

Online At-Large Officer

• Robert Hernandez

Robert Hernandez is the Director of Development for The Seattle Times/seattletimes.com. He’s been at the family-owned publication for more than five years, where he's been a producer and Senior Producer for News. His journalism career includes working for the Hearst-owned San Francisco Examiner/eXaminer.com, San Francisco Chronicle/SFGate.com and El Salvador's La Prensa Gráfica, among others.

“As a Web journalist, I've been a reporter, editor, photo editor, designer, developer and mentor. I believe because of my experience and my passion I embody the ideal candidate we need for this position. I know our rich history and the potential of our future. I hope I can count on your support now as I did at the start of my career.” – Robert Hernandez

Secretary

• Veronica Garcia

Veronica Garcia is a copy editor on the National News Desk of the Los Angeles Times. Since arriving at The Times in 1991 to complete her second year of METPRO – the Minority Editorial Training Program for copy editors – she has held a number of posts, including Page 2 editor and assistant editor on the Washington Edition. She was a member of the staff awarded Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, the 1994 Northridge Earthquake and the 2003 Southern California wildfires. Before coming to Los Angeles, she completed her first year of copy editor training at Newsday on Long Island. She also has worked on the editorial staffs at the Californian in El Cajon and at the Southern Cross, the newspaper for the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego.

“As news organizations continue to contract, it's crucial that NAHJ keep its eye on its mission: to increase the numbers of Latino journalists in our nation's newsrooms and to be guardians of coverage of Latino issues. As NAHJ Secretary, I will play a larger role in accomplishing these goals.” – Veronica Garcia

Region 4 Director

• Ybeth Bruzual

Ybeth Bruzual is a news anchor with Central Florida News 13, Central Florida’s only 24-hour news channel. She has been with the network since 1998. Prior to that, she worked as Main Anchor, and as a writer and producer, with Telemundo in Orlando, Florida. Out of a love of politics, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in International Politics from the University of Central Florida in 2005.

“Whether in Spanish or English language media, journalists endure long hours but the rush of putting out information to the public is priceless and so we do it day in and day out. As Region #4 director I know you are VERY busy and I pledge to be accessible to answer any questions about what NAHJ can do for you and vice versa. Furthermore, I will promote inclusiveness and diversity.” – Ybeth Bruzual

2008 NAHJ Student Representative

• Ashley Flores

Ashley Flores is a student at Texas State University. Initially a theatre major, she eventually fell in love with mass communications. She has interned at the college radio station as a promotions assistant and on-air news reporter. Ashley joined the National Broadcasting Society, and became vice president of the society to help increase the number of Latinos in the group. She also became a Spanish news reporter for the college radio station. She has also been a producer of La Nueva Onda, NAHJ’s radio program. She is also actively involved in the Texas State NAHJ Student chapter.

• Paloma Veloz

Paloma I. Veloz is a junior broadcast journalism and international relations dual major at Syracuse University. She’s actively involved in several organizations on campus including the SU NAHJ Student chapter. Next semester, she’s going to be serving at the SU chapter as Vice-president. Paloma is also a reporter and field producer of CONNECT, a public affairs TV show. She is also the co-founder of the first Spanish language newscast at Syracuse University.

• America Arias

America Arias is a fourth-year student at California State University, Fullerton. She is completing a double-major degree in Political Science and Communications, with an emphasis in broadcast journalism. She has been a member of the University Honors Program since freshman year and is the President of the CSUF chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). At Cal State Fullerton she is involved in several television shows for the university’s cable TV channel called Titan Communications. America has worked on El Reportero Latino, NAHJ Spanish-language student newspaper, and has been a CNN scholar-award recipient.

Proposed NAHJ bylaw amendments:

• New Article XVI. If approved, this Article XVI would be added to the NAHJ bylaws to guide the establishment, operation and governance of the organization’s professional and student chapters. It constitutes a new article to be added to the bylaws. It does not substitute any other article or clause.

• ARTICLE VI and VII amendments. This amendment to the bylaws governs the timing and procedure for the elections of the regional directors to the NAHJ board of directors. Currently, the bylaws state that the regional directors, unlike the national officers of the board, will be elected within 30 days after the annual convention. This amendment would bring the procedure more in line with the manner in which the other national officers are elected and close the elections during the NAHJ annual convention. By doing so, the results can be announced at the conference and the newly-elected regional directors can attend the board meeting that traditionally takes place immediately after the convention.

Incorporated in 1984, NAHJ's mission is to increase the percentage of Latinos working in our nation's newsrooms and to improve news coverage of the Latino community. NAHJ is the nation's largest professional organization for Latino journalists with more than 2,100 members working in English and Spanish-language print, photo, broadcast and online media. NAHJ is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization. For more information, visit www.nahj.org.