NAHJ 2010 convention Parity Project Town Hall…

Check out The Denver Post’s coverage of the 2010 NAHJ Convention Town Hall on media coverage of immigration:

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_15363424.

Here are details on the town hall, as well as the panelists who spoke at this event on Wed., June 23, 2010:

Video highlights from this year’s NAHJ 2010 convention Parity Project town hall in Denver:

Denver – From fiery rhetoric about Arizona’s controversial new immigration law to the racially-motivated murders of Hispanics in Pennsylvania and Long Island, New York, there are increased attacks on Latinos on all fronts.

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists brought together a dynamic group of community leaders and journalists to address the need for accurate and fair news coverage of Latinos during our 28th annual convention in Denver.

The 2010 Opening Plenary/Town Hall, titled: Latinos, the Newest Demons? The Need for Accurate News Coverage to Abate the Hate is open to the public and Latino community leaders throughout Colorado are being invited to attend.

Community and news leaders examined how misperceptions about Latinos have led to a climate of discrimination and violence; and the need for the community to demand, and for journalists to lead strong, accurate coverage to fight hate.

Latino community leaders from throughout Colorado were invited to take part. Panelists looked at how the Latino community can have an active voice in how the media covers issues related to Hispanics to ensure that news stories are accurate and fair.

Several Latino community leaders who attended have served on Hispanic Community Advisory Committees for news organizations that are partners in NAHJ’s Parity Project.

The Denver Post sponsored the 2010 NAHJ Convention Town Hall.

Tina Griego, who is a columnist at The Denver Post, and was NAHJ’s 2006 Frank del Olmo Print Journalist of the Year, was the moderator.

Panelists included:

• Polly Baca, the first Latina elected to the Colorado State Senate and former executive director of the Latin American Research and Service Agency, which examines trends and issues affecting Hispanics in Colorado.
  

  Former Colorado State Senator Polly Baca, the first Latina to be elected to that institution in the state's history.

  Richard Lamm, former three-term governor of Colorado and current Co-Director of the Institute for Public Policy at the University of Denver.
  

  Former three-term Colorado Governor Richard Lamm

  Amber Tafoya, former Public Policy Director for the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition.

  Dr. Celeste González de Bustamante, journalism professor at the University of Arizona, who has done extensive research on media coverage of immigration and its affect on the Latino community.
  

  University of Arizona journalism professor Celeste González de Bustamante

This event was open to the public, particularly community leaders who are concerned about fair and accurate news coverage of Latinos.
2010 NAHJ Town Hall Sponsor: The Denver Post.

The primary funder of NAHJ’s Parity Project is the McCormick Foundation, which is based in Chicago.

McCormick Foundation banner at entrance to 2010 NAHJ convention town hall.

Media contact: Kevin Olivas, NAHJ Parity Project Director. Phone: 202.262.4099. Email: kolivas@nahj.org