National Association of Hispanic Journalists

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The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is a Washington, D.C.–based organization dedicated to the advancement of Hispanic and Latino journalists in the United States and Puerto Rico. It was established in 1984.^[1]

NAHJ has approximately 4,300 members, including working journalists, journalism students, other media-related professionals and journalism educators.

The first president of NAHJ was Gerald Garcia, Jr., who was also among one of the founders of the organization. After Garcia, Guillermo Martinez served from 1985-86. Manuel Galvan was the first president to serve a two year term from 1986 to 1988. Evelyn Hernandez became the first woman president of NAHJ and youngest elected at 28 years old from 1988 to 1990.

Don Flores served from 1990 to 1992, Diane Alverio from 1992 to 1994, Gilbert Bailon from 1994 to 1996, Dino Chiecchi from 1996to 1998, Nancy Baca from 1998-2000, Cecilia Alvear from 2000 to 2002, Juan Gonzalez from 2002 to 2004, Veronica Villafane from 2004 to 2006, Rafael Olmeda from 2006 to 2008, Ricardo Pimentel from 2008 to 2010 and Michele Salcedo from 2010 to 2012.

In 2012, Hugo Balta was elected to the first of two terms he served as President, the first and only president to serve twice. In 2014, Mekahlo Medina, the first LGBTQ+ president was elected.

Brandon Benavides served from 2016 to 2018, Hugo Balta second term from 2018 to 2020, Nora Lopez in 2020 to 2022 and current president Yvette Cabrera from 2022 to 2024.

Under the leadership of Juan González in 2002 to 2004, NAHJ created the Parity Project to assist news organizations in hiring and retaining Hispanic journalists and improving coverage of the Hispanic communities across the U.S. NAHJ is one of the few journalist associations to take a stand against media consolidation, largely due to the influence of Gonzalez and former presidents Verónica Villafañe (2004–2006) and Rafael Olmeda (2006–2008). NAHJ is a former partner organization of Unity Journalists of Color, Inc.

NAHJ is the publisher of the online magazine palabra.