Feb. 5, 2025 – The National Association of Hispanic Journalists has chosen seven exceptional journalists for the second cohort of the NAHJ Adelante Leadership Academy, a program designed to produce the next generation of news executives and entrepreneurial leaders.
The ¡PRESENTE! cohort reflects the diversity of the Hispanic community in the United States, including Afro-Latino, Indigenous and LGBTQ+ individuals. Some are first-generation immigrants. Working in digital, broadcast or podcast/documentary production, all are highly accomplished and intent on taking their careers to the next level.
NAHJ launched the Adelante Academy in 2024 to elevate more Latinos to senior leadership in newsrooms, positions that remain overwhelmingly white and male despite some progress toward diversity among rank-and-file journalists. The first cohort of Latina leaders graduated in July.
“Newsrooms do better journalism when they reflect the communities they serve, not just at the reporter level but at the leadership level,” said Yvette Cabrera, chair of the Adelante Leadership Academy advisory committee. “We want to see more newsroom decision-making roles filled by diverse leaders committed to accuracy, inclusiveness and excellence.”
The cohort members are:
- Ana María Carrano, Managing Editor at Factchequeado (Miami)
- Georgiana González, Editor-in-Chief at Yahoo en Español (Miami)
- Anthony Martinez, Producer at CBS News (New York)
- Katherine Picazo, Planning Editor at NBC4 and Telemundo52 (Los Angeles)
- Adreanna Rodriguez, Independent Journalist/Audio Producer (Oakland, CA)
- Gabriela Watson-Burkett, Founder, Executive Director, Editor-in-Chief at Inti Media (Philadelphia)
- Alicia Ybarbo, Coordinating Producer at TODAY SHOW (New York)
The program starts with an intensive, week-long session at Columbia Journalism School in New York City in March, continues through two virtual phases, and culminates when they present their work projects at the NAHJ annual conference in July. In addition to instructors, cohort members are matched with mentors. The program is tuition-free, thanks to support from the Ford Foundation and, in part, through a collaboration with Columbia Journalism School.
Read more about the program members below or visit the Adelante Academy website. For questions about the program, contact us here.
Meet the NAHJ Adelante Leadership Academy ¡PRESENTE! Program cohort
Ana María Carrano is the Managing Editor at Factchequeado and a former Senior Editor at elDetector (Univision), with expertise in fact-checking, AI tools, and innovative journalism. She has led projects like Electopedia, managed real-time fact-checking of presidential debates, and co-created Venezuela Decoded to combat censorship. A John S. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford, her work has earned awards like the Roche Journalism Award and Inter American Press Association Excellence Award.
Georgiana González is the Editor-in-Chief of Yahoo en Español, with over 20 years of experience in digital media. She holds a Mass Communication degree from the Universidad Central de Venezuela and a Master’s in New Communication Technologies from Boston University. Her career includes senior editorial roles at NorthernLight, StarMedia, and Yahoo Spain, navigating significant shifts in the digital landscape. Georgiana focuses on newsroom diversity, news consumption patterns, misinformation, and the impact of artificial intelligence in journalism.
Anthony Martinez is an Emmy Award-winning multimedia producer at CBS News, working on CBS Mornings and CBS Mornings Plus. He previously launched the network’s only daily podcast and worked at Spectrum NY1 News. A graduate of American University in Political Science and Broadcast Journalism, Anthony is proud of his Puerto Rican and Cuban roots. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, watching tennis, dancing, and playing golf, hoping to improve his tennis skills this year.
Katherine Picazo is a newsroom leader at NBC4 and Telemundo52 in Los Angeles, overseeing coverage planning for two top television news stations. A first-generation Cal State Fullerton graduate, Katherine’s passion for storytelling is rooted in her experience as the proud daughter of undocumented immigrants. Her career began with an internship at Univision and roles at ABC7 before joining NBC4 and Telemundo in 2017. Beyond work, she enjoys discovering new coffee shops and going for outdoor runs.
Adreanna Rodriguez is an independent journalist and producer based in Oakland, California, focusing on social and climate justice for Indigenous communities and femme stories. A Hunkpapa Lakota/Chicana woman, her work has earned recognition, including a Gracie Award and a Third Coast International Audio Award finalist nod for “Roe Was Never Enough.” She has produced investigations for Audible, PRX, and LWC Studios, and her first documentary on Maasai female pastoralists received the Jean Rouch Award. Adreanna holds an M.A. in Visual Anthropology from San Francisco State University.
Gabriela Watson-Burkett is a filmmaker, producer, and educator based in Philadelphia, with Peruvian roots and a Brazilian upbringing. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Inti Media, an organization dedicated to producing multilingual news and documentaries that inspire social change. Gabriela has worked with WPVI-TV/6ABC, WHYY, and PhillyCAM, and her documentary Baobab Flowers won the Audience Award at the 2017 BlackStar Film Festival. She holds an MFA in Film & Media Arts from Temple University.
Alicia Ybarbo is a five-time Emmy Award-winning producer and coordinating producer for TODAY at NBC News. With over 20 years of live network news experience, she has worked on the TODAY Show, NBC Sports, and ABC’s The View. Alicia is also a New York Times bestselling author of three parenting books, including Sh*tty Mom: The Parenting Guide for the Rest of Us.
About the National Association of Hispanic Journalists
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists is an educational and charitable association dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanic students, professionals, and educators in the field of journalism. NAHJ focuses heavily on advocacy, addressing injustices and political issues that affect Latino journalists throughout the country, while also supporting a growing network of members and chapters. For more information please visit NAHJ.org or follow us on X @NAHJ.