Nov. 21, 2024 – The National Association of Hispanic Journalists is thrilled to announce the creation of a new scholarship honoring award-winning Afro-Latina journalist Lori Montenegro. Each year, the NAHJ Lori Montenegro Scholarship will provide $5,000 to students, in particular Afro-Latino students pursuing a career in journalism or communications.
Montenegro is one of the most influential journalists in Spanish-language television. A trailblazing news leader and pioneer in her field, Montenegro is the Washington bureau chief for Noticias Telemundo, and was Telemundo’s Washington correspondent for more than 20 years.
Throughout her career, Montenegro, a Cuban-American, has been on the front lines covering the issues that matter most to Latinos. She has also served as a mentor to dozens of young journalists, many of whom today work at some of the country’s leading news organizations.
Montenegro is a recipient of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Latina Leader Award and the UnidosUS Rubén Salazar Award. She has also received the First Amendment Clarity Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association, a recognition awarded to a journalist who goes to extraordinary lengths to provide meaning and context to complicated news stories.
In 2023, she was inducted into the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) Hall of Fame. The same year, Montenegro was included in an exhibit at the Smithsonian’s American Museum of History called ¡De última hora!: Latinas Report Breaking News, which showcased the work of seven Latinas on Spanish-language television.
This scholarship is open to all students, with a focus on Afro-Latino students pursuing careers in English or Spanish-language journalism, communications or marketing.
“We are thrilled to work with Lori Montenegro to establish this scholarship, an expression of her unending generosity toward NAHJ and the next generation of Hispanic journalists,” said NAHJ Executive Director Yaneth Guillén-Díaz.
“The rich cultural heritage and diverse experiences of Afro-Latinos are invaluable assets that can help shape the future of storytelling,” Montenegro said. “By supporting their education, we are not only investing in individual talent but also enriching the entire media landscape.”
Students: Learn more and apply here.
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.