FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2021
NAHJ honors Albor Ruiz, Industry Leader & Columnist
(Washington, D.C.) – The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is saddened by the passing of Albor Ruiz. Ruiz, 80, passed away on the night of January 8 due to severe pneumonia.
Born in Cuba, Ruiz moved to Florida in 1961 at the age of 20. There, he studied political science and philosophy at the University of Florida before moving to New York in 1980. A journalism pioneer in New York, Ruiz served as the Editor-in-Chief of El Daily News and the Chief Editorial Writer of El Diaro before joining the New York Daily News in 1993. Over twenty years with the NY Daily News, Ruiz served as a powerful advocate and was known for his frank, unyielding analysis against the perpetrators of injustice. In 2016, Ruiz joined Philadelphia’s Al Dìa as a columnist, and ‘focused on national & international topics.’
Ruiz was also dedicated to fostering the Latino journalism community, and did so by serving as an NAHJ regional director and member of the national board. In 2003, he was inducted into the NAHJ Hall of Fame.
“Albor Ruiz was a trailblazer and a respected veteran journalist in our industry,” said Nora Lòpez, president of NAHJ. “He served as an incredible role model and there are many in our community who credit their success to his mentorship and wisdom.”
Albor Ruiz was proud of his Cuban heritage and consistently utilized his voice to defend his home. He expressed his love and commitment for his home in the exquisite book of poems, “Por si muero mañana.”
NAHJ reveres and honors his legacy.
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About the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ)
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is the largest organization of Latino journalists in the United States and dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. The mission of NAHJ is to increase the number of Latinos in the newsrooms and to work toward fair and accurate representation of Latinos in the news media. Established in April 1984, NAHJ created a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists. NAHJ has over 3,200 members, including working journalists, journalism students, other media-related professionals, and journalism educators. For more information please visit NAHJ.org or follow on Twitter @NAHJ.
Media Contact:
BA Snyder
Veritas Group for NAHJ
512.630.6337