After a semester of work put in by students and professors, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) has certified and renewed its charter at UTEP.
The NAHJ official website says that the program is dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry.
The chapter is run by four officers: Heriberto Perez Lara, president, Anahy Diaz, vice-president, Nicole Lopez, treasurer and Victoria Rivas, secretary. Communications professor Eraldo Chiecchi advises the organization.
“The goal of this organization is to make sure that there is an accurate representation in newsrooms and in the media of Hispanics,” Chiecchi said.
NAHJ officers are planning to create opportunities for members. These opportunities include attending The Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Conference in San Angelo to meet managing editors and other professionals in the field, workshops such as resume reviews for job and interview preparation and a proper space to publish their work on the UTEP NAHJ social media sites.
NAHJ will also host fundraisers to fund future out-of-town trips for members.
“We got a lot of stuff going on and our students will be the beneficiaries of the fact that we are now an official certified organization both on campus and with the national office,” Chiecchi said.
NAHJ member Connie Martinez is excited about the opportunities this program will bring.
“I think that NAHJ will be a great way for me to not only refine my journalism skills but build and grow in a community with people who have the same goals for their career,” Martinez said.
Interested students can join the program as long as they are members of NAHJ; the membership fee is $25 per year. Students do not need to be Hispanic to join the chapter.
“I am excited about bringing a new opportunity for journalism students, bringing opportunities that maybe I didn’t have or maybe some of the students that just graduated didn’t have. I think that this can be game-changing for journalism students,” Lara said.
Students interested in joining the chapter can contact Heriberto Perez Lara at [email protected] or professor Chiecchi at [email protected].
Julia Lucero may be reached at [email protected].
