Maria Hinojosa (July 2,1961).She is a Mexican – American journalist, and she is the anchor and executive producer of Latino USA on National Public Radio.
María Hinojosa was born on July 2, 1961. She is a Mexican-American journalist and news anchor. During her almost thirty-year career in journalism, she has collaborated with reports on different news networks, such as: PBS, CBS, CNN, NPR. Maria Hinojosa is also the anchor and executive producer of the Peabody Award-winning show Latino USA, broadcast on NPR.
Maria Hinojosa is the founder of an independent, non-profit organization whose goal is to serve the community. Futuro Media Group is founded in 2010, whose main purpose is to produce multimedia. In this podcast is produced in English and Spanish. In addition, she is the founding co-host of the political podcast “In the Thick.“ Hinojosa, as a reporter for NPR, was the first to report on youth violence in urban communities on a national scale. Additionally, the first Latina to anchor a PBS FRONTLINE report: “Lost in Detention” which aired in October 2011, as well as the first who was to explore abuse at immigrant detention facilities, garnering attention from Capitol Hill as well as both the mainstream and Spanish-language media. Maria Hinojosa is considered the only Latina woman who runs a current national newsroom.
Maria Hinojosa is the author of several books, among which are: “Raising Raul: Adventures Raising Myself and My Son, a motherhood memoir”(1999) and “Crews: Gang Members Talk to Maria Hinojosa”(1995). And her last book is called “Once I was you. A memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America” (2020). In the latter, she tells us about her personal experience as a Mexican American raised in the South of Chicago and at the same time, how the immigration problem has affected the way in which US citizens treat a foreigner.
“My stories didn’t appear we were invisible. I was invisible for the media narrative. No one in the reporting that i saw looked like me, looked like a my family. So i began to think that maybe somehow my life, my story, was less valuable, less important.”
(Maria Hinojosa, Dec. 26, 2015)
Maria Hinojosa through this quote expresses how the narrative in the media lacked a Latin presence, they were literally invisible, especially in the field of journalism, being affected since childhood by this situation. But as time passes, her voice makes itself heard, which has even led her to be recognized with different awards.
Maria Hinojosa has earned several recognition throughout her journalistic career. She has received four Emmys Awards and Walter Cronkite Award for excellence in journalism. In 2012 John Chancellor Award for Excellence in Journalism, the Robert F. Kennedy Award for Reporting on the Disadvantaged, the Studs Terkel Community Media Award, and the Edward R. Murrow Award from the Overseas Press Club for best documentary for her groundbreaking “Child Brides: Stolen Lives”, as well as, Hinojosa was honored with an AWRT Gracie Award for Individual Achievement as Best TV correspondent in 2009. She has been honored with her own day in October by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and has been recognized by People En Español as one of the 25 most powerful Latina women among others.
(Interview with NPR, Sept.13, 2020)
We can see that Maria Hinojosa with this quote wants to draw our attention, that we learn more about those life stories with which each immigrant arrives in the United States. Thus creating the necessary means to tell those authentic stories and have your voice heard.
Maria Hinojosa is a woman worthy of admiration because she with bravery and courage has led her voice in defense of the most vulnerable population in this country. She has been characterized by clearly and coherently carrying the news that no one, nor any media outlet dares to speak on television or radio. But, she Hinojosa draws the attention of all viewers by communicating her points of view based on her experiences and her research work in the field. With her journalistic work, she reports on the crisis or existing problem with Latino immigrants, thus promoting the curiosity to better understand the current situations in the country. Just as she herself considers a “Luchona” woman, so should all Latina women be,” fighters”. And for these we must educate ourselves and always continue forward, regardless of the difficulties that are always on the way.
Words Cited
“Maria Hinojosa: Aspen Ideas.” Aspen Ideas Festival, www.aspenideas.org/speakers/maria-hinojosa.https://www.aspenideas.org/speakers/maria-hinojosa
“Maria Hinojosa.” Latino USA, 16 Feb. 2021, www.latinousa.org/team/maria-hinojosa/.https://www.latinousa.org/team/maria-hinojosa/
“Maria Hinojosa.” NPR, NPR, 17 May 2021, www.npr.org/people/2100638/maria-hinojosa. https://www.npr.org/people/2100638/maria-hinojosa
“Maria Hinojosa.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots/about/meet-our-guests/maria-hinojosa. https://www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots/about/meet-our-guests/maria-hinojosa
Maria Hinojosa. “11 Powerful Quotes Latina Women Said in 2015 That You Should Remember in 2016.” Mic, Mic, 26 Dec. 2015, www.mic.com/articles/131256/11-powerful-quotes-latina-women-said-in-2015-that-you-should-remember-in-2016. https://www.mic.com/articles/131256/11-powerful-quotes-latina-women-said-in-2015-that-you-should-remember-in-2016
Prepared by Niulka Perez.
