October 30, 2025 – The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is pleased to announce that Samantha Rivera and Edwin Lopez will serve as program co-chairs for the 2026 NAHJ Conference & Expo, taking place July 21–25, 2026, at the New Orleans Marriott.
Together, Rivera and Lopez will guide the development of a conference program designed to give members the tools, connections, and insights they need to thrive in a rapidly changing industry. Working with NAHJ’s task forces, they will help shape more than 50 sessions and workshops that respond to the needs of journalists at every stage of their careers.
This year’s conference will also feature one to two daily plenary sessions with no competing programming, creating shared learning experiences for all attendees. The curriculum reflects NAHJ’s diverse membership and the full range of issues shaping Latino journalism today.
“NAHJ is thrilled to have two dynamic newsroom leaders at the helm of this year’s conference programming,” said NAHJ Executive Director Yaneth Guillén-Díaz. “Their experience — from investigative and business journalism to bilingual sports coverage — reflects the depth and diversity of our profession and the talent within NAHJ.”
The call for session proposals is now open. Members are encouraged to submit session ideas and help shape the curriculum for this year’s conference. To submit a proposal, click here.
Conference Tracks
Programming for #NAHJ2026 will be organized around the following topics, each led or curated by a corresponding track organizer: Afro-Latino, AI / Emerging Tech, Broadcast, Business, Core Skills, Education, Freelance, Investigative & Data, LGBTQIA+, Management, Meteorology & Climate, NAHJ Cares (Health & Safety), Spanish, Sports and Visual.
About the Co-Chairs
Samantha Rivera is a bilingual sports journalist for CBS Miami, where she anchors and reports in both English and Spanish. From the Florida Panthers’ and Miami Heat’s finals runs to Lionel Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami, she has covered some of South Florida’s biggest sports moments. Before joining CBS, Rivera reported and anchored in her hometown for NBC 5 Chicago, Telemundo Chicago, and NBC Sports Chicago, as well as in San Diego and Michigan. She is NAHJ’s Region 4 Director, serves on the Sports Task Force board, and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Rivera earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from DePaul University.
Edwin Lopez is a managing editor at Informa TechTarget, where he oversees several award-winning business publications in the transportation sector, including Supply Chain Dive, Trucking Dive, and WardsAuto. Over his nine-year career, he has guided his teams to more than a dozen national journalism award nominations and two top prizes. Lopez previously served as his newsroom’s first editorial operations manager, launching DEI-focused initiatives such as inclusive writing guidelines, NAHJ engagement programs, and newsroom-wide training opportunities. A native of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Lopez holds a bachelor’s degree in foreign service from Georgetown University.
Planning Committee
Rivera and Lopez will be supported by a volunteer Planning Committee of newsroom leaders, educators, and advocates who will help guide programming and activities throughout the conference. Collaborating closely with NAHJ leadership, the committee will surface timely ideas, identify unique networking opportunities, and ensure event offerings reflect members’ needs.
The Planning Committee includes: AnaMaria Bech (VIVA NOLA Magazine); Mike Berenguer (Telemundo 42); Lucy Bustamante (Gray Media – FOX New Orleans); Andres Fuentes (WVUE-TV); Al Galindo (EDG); Juan Francisco Garcia (KGLA-TV); Ana Esther Gershanik (writer & community activist); Mabel Regalado-Hernandez (Loyola University); Jennifer Larino (Lede New Orleans); Gregory Lee (Loyola University New Orleans); Rebecca Lopez (WFAA-TV & Hispanic Communicators DFW); Brenda Murphy (Jambalaya News Louisiana); Mayra Pineda (Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana); Diane Castro Schnell (Latinola); Will Sutton (The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com); and Ramon Antonio Vargas (The Guardian).
The NAHJ National Conference offers unparalleled career development opportunities with leading Latino journalists and media professionals. Each year, attendees gain tools for career growth, storytelling innovation, and newsroom leadership in a rapidly evolving industry.
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Press Contact: Andrew Sherry, asherry@nahj.org, 305.954.7571
About NAHJ:
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists is the largest organization of Latino journalists in the United States, dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. Established in 1984, NAHJ works to increase the number of Latinos in newsrooms and to ensure fair and accurate representation of Latino communities in media. Learn more at NAHJ.org.