Empowering Latina Journalists: The Impact of the NAHJ Adelante Academy’s Latina Leadership Program

Empowering Latina Journalists: The Impact of the NAHJ Adelante Academy’s Latina Leadership Program

Participants in the first cohort of the NAHJ Adelante Academy, the Latina Leadership Program, describe the experience as transformative. That makes it a success, but only a partial one. The goal of the Adelante Academy is to transform the industry through the power of inclusive leadership.

NAHJ has made vast strides toward more Latinos in news since its founding 40 years ago, but some of the assumptions diving diversity programs have proven incomplete. An increase in reporters, line producers and assistant editors of color can’t change the way newsrooms work if top editors, executive producers and executives steer coverage with values that are rooted in an older America. 

As a result, NAHJ has seen diversity gains chipped away as member journalists, particularly Latinas, decide to leave the field or spin their wheels in positions without real influence at what should be the peak phase of their careers. And the news industry continues to change at an incremental pace, despite struggling for more than two decades with its business model.

A new approach to journalism diversity

NAHJ created the Adelante Academy to change that, by providing high-level career development support for member journalists. A cornerstone of NAHJ’s five-year strategic plan, the first cohort, the Latina Leadership Program, launched in January 2024 and culminated with a high-spirited graduation ceremony during NAHJ’s annual conference in Los Angeles in July.

The program was designed to equip Latina journalists with the tools, support, and networks necessary to ascend to top leadership positions. Starting with a week of high-level sessions at Columbia Journalism School, the program combined in-person and virtual sessions, allowing participants to engage deeply with industry leaders, mentors, and peers while balancing their professional commitments.

Participants said they emerged from the program not only with enhanced leadership skills, increased confidence and a renewed sense of purpose, but also a powerful sense of community from connecting with others who, like them, were often the only Latinas at their newsroom level.

“All of the workshops and sessions were really tailored to our growth as leaders and professionals. I took a lot away from design thinking, which I think made me a more strategic thinker, as well as negotiation classes, which really help with managing up,” said Julyssa Lopez, deputy music editor for Rolling Stone. “Being around other women who were creative powerhouses … was an incredibly empowering experience.”

Transforming Newsrooms from Within

The outcomes of the Latina Leadership Program extend beyond individual achievements; they encompass a broader vision for the future of journalism. Participants developed innovative final projects that directly addressed the challenges facing their newsrooms, showcasing the unique perspectives that Latinas bring to the table. These projects aimed to enhance newsroom diversity, improve community engagement, and foster culturally relevant storytelling.

Lopez, Maite Fernández of the Washington Post, Lorena Flores at the Dallas Morning News, and Victoria Moll-Ramirez of ABC News all focused on systematically developing their outlets’ Hispanic audiences or diversifying community coverage, and all went on to implement those projects in their newsrooms. Paola Jaramillo brought innovation to nonprofit space by developing editorial product to transform the sustainability of Enlace Latino NC.

Elda Cantú, a Mexico City-based New York Times news editor, worked on “Con Eñes y Acentos: A workflow to move from ‘sustainable survival’ to exciting growth through experimentation. Even as she builds relationships to realize the strategy, she’s already demonstrating that innovation can come from well outside the headquarters of the Gray Lady.

Other program participants pushing the envelope of newsroom change were CNN’s Flora Charner, NBC News’ Erika Angulao, The Marshall Project’s Ana Mendez, and LAist’s Leslie Berestein Rojas. The latter, whose project focused on developing a mentorship program at LAist, realized her own vocation to mentorship during the program by accepting an additional role as an associate professor at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

Members of the Latina Leadership cohort with a few of their trainers and mentors

Members of the Latina Leadership cohort with a few of their trainers and mentors.

By equipping these Latina leaders with the knowledge and support they need, the program is actively working to change the narrative in newsrooms. As these women step into leadership roles, they will influence coverage and culture, ensuring that the stories of diverse communities are told with authenticity and depth.

The support that makes transformation possible

The network of mentors, trainers and speakers who came together to support the cohort – and in many cases offered their personal connections – was phenomenal. They included Ariel Zirulnick, Ashley Alvarado, Emma Carrasco, Feli Carrique, Matthew Caruana Galizia, Nuria Net, Selymar Colón, Charo Henríquez, Gina Chua, Maria Elena Salinas, Natasha Alford, Lori Montenegro, Aimee Rinehart, and Maribel Lopez. Also Yvette Cabrera, who championed the program during her 2022-24 tenure as NAHJ president.

Going forward, NAHJ is seeking a media company partner to be the lead sponsor of the Adelante Academy.

The success of the inaugural cohort demonstrates that when the right resources and networks are provided, Latina journalists can thrive and lead. The Academy’s commitment to top-level leadership development is not just a program; it is a movement aimed at transforming the industry from within.

As we celebrate the achievements of this first cohort, it is essential to acknowledge that the work is far from over. The NAHJ Adelante Academy is poised to continue its mission of empowering underrepresented voices, ensuring that their voices are not only heard but amplified in the halls of leadership. This program is a testament to the belief that sometimes, to make meaningful change, one must dare to do something different. The future of journalism depends on it.

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