FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2022
NAHJ issues media advisories following devastation by Fiona — expresses solidarity with island journalists and community members
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(Washington, D.C.) – The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) expresses solidarity with our fellow members and journalists in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic working in the aftermath of yet another devastating hurricane in the Caribbean. While the extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Fiona is still being assessed, much of Puerto Rico has been impacted by a widespread power outage as well as catastrophic flash flooding, forcing journalists to work in challenging circumstances.
NAHJ call on all media outlets to provide their journalists with the tools to protect their mental and physical health. We also call on news media organizations at the national level to provide sustained coverage and monitoring of this disaster and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and other regions hit by the storm.
In 2017, a FiveThirtyEight analysis found that Puerto Rico received significantly less media coverage immediately after Hurricane Maria than other U.S. locations hit by powerful hurricanes. As the effects of Hurricane Fiona on the island’s infrastructure emerge, NAHJ urges networks and newsrooms to devote the necessary resources to provide viewers and readers with informed and consistent coverage, and with journalism that holds government agencies accountable. Engaging and empowering local journalists, experts and contributors is crucial to ensure that cultural nuances, historical context, accurate information and policy implications in this U.S. territory are covered.
Given the challenges faced by journalists on the island, NAHJ will be providing financial support for coworking spaces for our members on the island, and the national board will continue to monitor the needs of journalists on the island. In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in September 2017, NAHJ mobilized the \’Puerto Rico Emergency Communications Access and Journalism Initiative\’ (PRECAJI) coalition to distribute solar powered communication systems to newsrooms across the island, providing stranded journalists access to vital communication and newsroom tools to sustain reporting as the island grappled with power outages and infrastructure damage.
News reports and communication are crucial to the survival of our communities in the region, where lives are at stake. We encourage all journalists to stay in contact with their local boards for assistance and to identify needs. While journalists work on the ground and around the clock to provide the world with timely updates, NAHJ offers its continued support and stands in solidarity with our Puerto Rican and Dominican community members as the region begins the process of recovery and rebuilding.
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About NAHJ: 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 the newsrooms and to work toward fair and accurate representation of Latinos in news media. NAHJ has over 4,300 members, including working journalists, journalism students, other media-related professionals and journalism educators. For more information please visit NAHJ.org or follow on Twitter @NAHJ.
Media Contact:
BA Snyder
Veritas Group for NAHJ
512.630.6337
BA@TheVeritasWay.com