June 4, 2025 – The National Association of Hispanic Journalists is proud to announce the induction of Alina Falcón, Mercedes Olivera, Janelle Rodriguez, and Damian Trujillo into the 2025 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 represent the breadth of NAHJ’s four-decade history of advocacy and achievement. Mercedes Olivera, whose voice shaped Latino coverage in Texas for more than 40 years, is being inducted posthumously.
The inductees will be celebrated at the NAHJ Hall of Fame Gala on Saturday, July 12, culminating the 2025 NAHJ Conference & Expo in Chicago.
Alina Falcón is the only person to have led the news divisions of both Univision and Telemundo, the nation’s top two Spanish-language networks—a groundbreaking achievement in U.S. media. Over four decades, she helped shape how millions of Latinos receive their news, launching signature programs like Aquí y Ahora and overseeing award-winning coverage that earned multiple Emmys and Edward R. Murrow Awards. A trailblazer in Spanish-language journalism, she rose from local news producer to network executive, mentoring a generation of journalists along the way. Colleagues describe her as a visionary leader with exacting standards and a deep commitment to truth, representation, and service to the Latino community.
Mercedes Olivera was a pioneering columnist whose weekly voice in The Dallas Morning News amplified Latino stories for more than 40 years. Starting in 1975, she became one of the first Mexican American columnists at a major U.S. newspaper, writing with clarity, courage, and a deep sense of cultural responsibility. Her column was essential reading in North Texas, where she uplifted community voices and addressed politics, education, culture, and identity through a Latino lens. A former president of the DFW chapter of NAHJ, she also taught journalism at Texas Christian University and mentored generations of young reporters. She passed away in 2018, but her legacy continues through a scholarship fund in her name and the many lives she touched.
Janelle Rodriguez is one of the highest-ranking Latinas in American broadcast journalism, serving as Executive Vice President of Programming at NBC News. She oversees NBC Nightly News, NBC News Specials, and NBC News NOW—the fastest-growing streaming news network in the U.S. A former CNN executive, she has shaped coverage of the country’s most consequential events, from presidential elections to global crises. Under her leadership, NBC News NOW has launched more Latino-led shows than any other streaming news platform, expanding representation and elevating nuanced storytelling. A five-time Emmy winner and Peabody recipient, Rodriguez is known as a newsroom leader who champions truth, mentors with purpose, and brings humanity to the highest levels of journalism.
Damian Trujillo has been a trusted voice in Bay Area journalism for nearly 30 years, bringing compassion, integrity, and cultural fluency to every story he tells. A former farmworker raised in California’s Salinas Valley, he now hosts and produces Comunidad Del Valle, the region’s longest-running public affairs show, airing in both English and Spanish. At NBC Bay Area and Telemundo 48, he’s covered everything from natural disasters to national politics, always centering the Latino community. An Emmy Award winner and founding member of NAHJ’s Bay Area chapter, Trujillo is known for mentoring young journalists and for honoring his roots—personally delivering meals to farmworkers each César Chávez Day and awarding scholarships to their children.
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: Andrew Sherry, @press@nahj.org, (305) 954-7571