My name is Iliana Limón Romero. I grew up in El Paso, Texas, on the U.S. Mexico border. I went to the University of New Mexico and worked for the student newspaper, “The Daily Lobo.” I did all the jobs there and was so happy that people would pay me for the first time for doing journalism. I started with NAHJ as a student at the University of New Mexico. I went to my first convention and got so much support. So that was a huge stepping stone because the industry is hard to break into. It was then, it is now. Those connections are really, really valuable.
I started in news and switched to sports because there was an opportunity and I always had an interest. I just felt like it was a good time in my career to try something different and to be really challenged. I’m glad I made the switch. I stayed in sports. Every once in a while I still get editors from around the country who are like, “when you get done with playing in sports, let me know,” which is ridiculous. I think it’s of value and importance. I will say that we’ve seen leadership of newsrooms come from the sports and entertainment sides because there’s just a great deal of innovation that comes out of those departments that some people might have dismissed in the past and a desire to connect deeply with that audience.
Tell me a little bit more about that introduction to the association, or how you found out about NAHJ?
Yeah, so the New Mexico chapter of NAHJ at the time, or at least New Mexico journalists, were pretty active when I was in college. We went to the convention. It was a remarkable experience being surrounded by so many people who were into journalism, celebrating the kind of thing that you’re doing; people who look like you, people who come from your background who speak your language. That’s amazing — to see so many people who’ve made it, who have found their path and who have jobs. I’ve remained a member since then. I’m now a lifetime member because it’s just such a strong organization that’s always helped [me] out, always opened doors for others and I just really believe in what [NAHJ] has to offer.
Becoming an NAHJ member at a young age, would you say that it was helpful to have an environment where you felt supported? Or was there a specific instance where you felt that NAHJ had a positive impact on your career trajectory?
Yes, all of it. I do specifically think that feeling some competence [was helpful]. When I went to school, I wasn’t sure that I would get paid to work in journalism. I didn’t know if I would get a job. I didn’t know if I’d be able to make it. Seeing so many other people who had similar paths or who had done comparable things be able to get there was such an affirming experience. Hearing great speakers, learning new tools and connecting with people was wonderful, but almost every opportunity after just getting my foot in the door at the journal was affirmed by people who either had been involved with NAHJ or who had spoken up on my behalf.
What NAHJ often does is introduce us to potential peers or people who have similar backgrounds, who have been through comparable experiences. To have people who care about you, want you to be successful and are available to provide a different perspective is so hugely valuable. So when people talk about what does [NAHJ] mean, I say that it’s introduced me to all these things. It has been everything that I needed at each step of my career.
Do you have someone in mind as you talk about this?
No, I have a lot. That’s the point, I think. There has to be a lot of them because everybody’s busy. That’s the power of such a big organization. It’s not just one person that you turn to at any given time, it’s the ability to have so many. It’s like a dozen people that I think of depending on what the situation is, what their area of expertise is or what they’ve got going on in their lives. Those are things that are really valuable. And I’m sure if you ask [other members], they’d be like “no, she’s my mentor,” but I think it’s just being able to talk through these things is really valuable.
Speaking of mentors, how do you pay it forward? Is there anyone who would regard you as a “mentor”? Do you have any examples of that?
I have a lot. That is the best feeling though. So we already talked about my bio. I’m working at the Los Angeles Times as the assistant managing editor for sports/sports editor. The assistant energy editor has their title on the masthead. There’s not many Latinos on the masthead, so having that role in a community like Los Angeles is a huge deal. To be the first woman, the first Mexican-American to hold this role and to be the only Latina sports editor in the United States are big things and mean a lot. It’s an honor, but I can’t be the last. That would be incredibly disappointing and a profound setback for our momentum.
So I am the co-chair for the NAHJ Sports Taskforce. We use that platform to open doors and provide opportunities to connect people who are struggling to get a foothold or advance in their careers. I think really fundamentally, in journalism, a lot of what we do is count on people to answer our calls and accept our interview requests. If we’re going to be about that all the time, then to me, I think you’ve got to be able to put that right back out there. If I’m counting on stuff coming through from my staff and my team, I generally want to be the person who’s going to make the time to take interview requests, to help students out or to take meetings where people are asking for help. I’m where I’m at today because so many people took that time.
Would you like to elaborate on anything else?
I’m really grateful for the chances that I’ve had in my career, the opportunities and the faith that people have invested in me. At the Los Angeles Times, I feel really supported and have great managers who are mentors and share the same values about helping others. I think that’s been very meaningful to me. I have such gratitude. I also have gratitude for everyone that I worked with at the Orlando Sentinel and for everyone I worked with at the Albuquerque Tribune, which is now closed. But still, its alumni are all over and doing amazing things.
Yes, my list of accomplishments are fairly straightforward. I’m the only Latina sports editor at a major U.S. newspaper. I’m the first woman to hold the title at the Los Angeles Times. These are big things, and I pinch myself every once in a while. But I think my greatest joy is working with my team and seeing them succeed and overcome obstacles. Seeing people who are fighting for a chance to get in the door of this industry get in through NAHJ and another group that I work with, the Association for Women in Sports Media, is amazing. Every time I hear from someone who landed an internship, a job, a promotion or who just feels good about their work, I think that’s such a huge accomplishment. Hearing from somebody who just had that breakthrough feels so good. That powers me for so long. Fortunately, I can see the team that I supervise have wins on a daily basis, too. I don’t think my accomplishments are the titles. I think that’s great, that’s really valuable and I understand the importance of that representation. But to me, the biggest wins are the little ones that come hopefully often when somebody that I’ve spent some time with has had some success.