April 21, 2026 — The National Association of Hispanic Journalists is proud to announce the induction of Sally Ramirez, Carlos Avila Gonzalez, Ricardo Sandoval-Palos and José Díaz-Balart into the 2026 NAHJ Hall of Fame.
The NAHJ Hall of Fame recognizes trailblazing journalists whose dedication and contributions have paved the way for Latinos in the industry. Honoring a legacy of excellence, the Hall of Fame celebrates individuals who have made a lasting impact through their work, mentorship and commitment to accurate and representative coverage of Latino communities.
This year’s honorees reflect decades of leadership, innovation and storytelling across broadcast, print and multimedia journalism.
“I am deeply honored to be inducted into the NAHJ Hall of Fame,” Ramirez said. “NAHJ represents a legacy of journalists who have expanded opportunity, elevated coverage and insisted that our communities be seen and heard with depth, accuracy and truth.”
“It’s the honor of my professional life to be named an NAHJ Hall of Fame inductee,” said Sandoval-Palos. “This recognition reflects the impact NAHJ has had on journalists like me and the mentors who helped open doors and shaped our paths in this industry.”
The inductees will be celebrated at the NAHJ Hall of Fame Gala on July 25 during the 2026 NAHJ Conference & Expo in New Orleans.
Sally Ramirez
Senior Vice President of News, NBC 5 Chicago | Telemundo Chicago
A Chicago native with more than 30 years of experience, Sally Ramirez returned home in 2023 to lead and transform the newsrooms at NBC 5 and Telemundo Chicago. She has held leadership roles across major markets and national platforms, including CNBC, and is known for guiding teams through moments of innovation and crisis. She is the recipient of numerous industry awards, including five Edward R. Murrow Awards, four Emmy Awards and the Alfred I. du-Pont-Columbia University Award, among others.
Carlos Avila Gonzalez
Photo & Video Journalist, San Francisco Chronicle
An award-winning photojournalist and multimedia producer with more than 25 years of experience, Carlos Avila Gonzalez has documented defining moments across the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. His work spans news, sports and culture. He has played a key role in the evolution of digital and visual storytelling. A longtime newsroom leader, he has also mentored and trained emerging journalists.
Ricardo Sandoval-Palos
PBS Public Editor
A veteran journalist and editor, Ricardo Sandoval-Palos has led investigative and enterprise reporting across the United States and Latin America. He has held leadership roles at NPR, The Dallas Morning News and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and is a founding editor of palabra, NAHJ’s independent multimedia platform. His work has focused on accountability, human rights and the stories shaping Latino communities.
José Díaz-Balart
Anchor, NBC Nightly News Saturday & Noticias Telemundo
An Emmy, Peabody and duPont-Columbia award-winning journalist, José Díaz-Balart is one of the most respected voices in broadcast news. He is the only journalist to anchor national nightly newscasts in both English and Spanish and has covered major global events throughout his career. Díaz-Balart has interviewed every U.S. president since Ronald Reagan and continues to shape national conversations through his reporting.
About the National Association of Hispanic Journalists
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is the largest organization of Latino journalists in the United States and is dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. Established in April 1984, NAHJ created a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists. The mission of NAHJ is to increase the number of Latinos in newsrooms and to work toward fair and accurate representation of Latinos in news media. NAHJ has more than 3,500 members, including working journalists, journalism students, other media-related professionals, and journalism educators. For more information, please visit NAHJ.org or follow us on X @NAHJ.
Press contact: communications@nahj.org