Chicago, July 10, 2025 – The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is proud to announce its 2025 Chapter of the Year award winners, recognizing outstanding chapters that empower Latino journalists, advance equity in newsrooms, and build stronger communities through impactful programming.
National Chapter of the Year: Washington, DC
NAHJ’s Washington, DC chapter earned the highest honor for a year marked by exceptional impact, leadership, and growth. Highlights include:
- Strong member growth (+17% year-over-year) and strong student pipeline support
- High-impact programming, including its annual White House briefing with top officials, bipartisan congressional briefings, and exclusive job fairs attracting hundreds of attendees
- Fundraising success, raising over $46,000 at its Noche de Periodistas gala to support student awards and free job fair registrations
- Strategic partnerships with national media, Google, and local businesses to expand opportunities for Latino journalists
NAHJ-DC’s work this year set a new standard for chapter excellence, advocacy, and community engagement.
National Chapter Award of Excellence – Large Professional Chapter: NAHJ South Florida
The South Florida chapter was recognized for empowering journalists through programming that builds skills and community impact. Highlights include:
- Workshops addressing misinformation, AI, and elections
- Career fairs, résumé workshops, and personal finance sessions for journalists
- Strategic partnerships with SPJ, NABJ South Florida, FIU, and Telemundo
- Strong membership retention and social media engagement, strengthening its local and regional reach
Student Chapter of the Year: George Washington University
In just under two years, GW’s student chapter has emerged as a powerhouse of leadership and professional development. Highlights include:
- Hosting eight impactful events, from on-camera training with CNN’s Boris Sanchez to diversity panels with AAJA and ABJ
- Growing membership by 75% while forging strong ties with NAHJ-DC for mentorship and real-world newsroom exposure
- Members securing internships with CBS News, NBC/Telemundo, TeleOnce Puerto Rico, and other leading organizations
Other finalists for Student Chapter of the Year were:
- Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, recognized for purpose-driven programming bridging professional growth and cultural identity
- University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo, honored for its leadership in student journalism, community outreach, and national award-winning reporting projects
“These chapters exemplify the mission of NAHJ,” said Dunia Elvir, NAHJ President. “They create opportunities, build community, and ensure Latino journalists are represented, supported, and empowered to tell the stories that matter.”
The awardees learned they had won during the opening celebration of NAHJ’s annual conference in Chicago on July 9, 2025.
Press contact: Andrew Sherry, press@nahj.org, (315) 954-7571
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.