CCNMA Latino Journalists of California celebrated 50 years of helping change the face of newsrooms across the country at a gala dinner and awards presentation onNovember 4 at the picturesque Los Angeles River Center.
The event honored the trailblazing journalists who founded CCNMA in 1972, but it also celebrated the future of journalism – five Latina college students were awarded scholarships. The program, emceed by Kim Baldonado of NBC4 LA and Sid Garcia of ABC7 Eyewitness News, also recognized the 10 Most Influential Latina Journalists in California in 2022 and the Latina Journalist of the year and Emerging Latina Journalist of the year.

CCNMA celebrates 50 years of helping diversify newsrooms at a gala scholarship and awards banquet

Four journalists were also presented with CCNMA’s annual Ruben Salazar Awards, which recognize news reports and commentary about the Latino community nationwide that represent excellence in journalism.
Félix Gutiérrez, USC professor emeritus of journalism and CCNMA’s first executive director, told the crowd at the packed outdoor venue that the organization considered disbanding in 1978. But Gannett Foundation executive Jerry Sass awarded CCNMA a $25,000 grant, enabling the group to hire staff and focus on getting more Latinos and other people of color into the news business through decades of job fairs, workshops and professional development programs.
“That all attracted other funding and forms of support,” Gutiérrez said of that first key grant. CCNMA President Laurie Ochoa thanked the founders and early members, some of whom sat at a special table near the stage. She read a message from founder and former Los Angeles Times editor Frank O. Sotomayor, who was unable to attend: “You’ve been trailblazers in the struggle for news media diversity,” Sotomayor said to CCNMA and its members. “And, as was our goal as founders 50 years ago, you’ve helped bring a more accurate media portrayal of Latinos.”
Over the years, CCNMA has awarded more than $1 million to college students aspiringto be journalists. Scholarship winners include reporters and editors now working at news organizations such as CBS Network, ABC Network, the New York Times, Los Angeles Times and CNN.  At the L.A. River Center gala, the 2022 Latina Journalist of the Year was awarded to veteran broadcast journalist Lynette Romero of KNBC. Her departure in September from KTLA highlighted the need for more Latino on-air talent in the Los Angeles market, where Latinos make up nearly 50% of the population. “I feel so grateful to be welcomed with open arms,” Romero said about her new role as an anchor of the “Today in L.A.” morning newscast.  Kimberly Cruz, a multimedia reporter of KSBY in Santa Barbara, was named the Emerging Latina Journalist of the Year.  
The others who were named Most Influential Journalists in California were also acknowledged at the event, where each was presented with an award.
They are: Yvette Cabrera, Center for Public Integrity, senior reporter and NAHJ President; Karen Carranza, Telemundo Network, director Western region; Laura Diaz, KTTV, news anchor/reporter; Dunia Elvir, Telemundo 52, News anchor/reporter; Nancy Rivera Brooks, Los Angeles Times, deputy editor; Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, sports editor; Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED, labor correspondent; and Marla Tellez, KTTV, news anchor/reporter.
Among the highlights of the night was the announcement of the winners of the 2020 Ruben Salazar Awards, named in honor of the slain Los Angeles Times columnist and KMEX TV news director.
In the broadcast category, John Valadez, Carleen Hsu and Sandy Pedlow of PBS’ Voces won for their hour-long “American Exile” documentary, which told the tale of Latino military veterans who fought for the U.S., only to be deported after serving their country.
Carolina Miranda of the Los Angeles Times won in the commentary and opinion category for her illuminating piece about the reconsideration of Mexican icon La Malinche. Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, also of the Los Angeles Times, won in the print category for her powerful portraits of Latinos who suffered in the pandemic.
In the digital category, Edwin Flores of NBCNews.com won for his stellar reporting on Latino farmworkers and their children.
CCNMA Treasurer Joe Rodriguez presented scholarship checks to Brenda Elizondo of Cal State Fullerton, Rebecca Loyola of Cal State Fullerton, Nathalie Miranda of Pierce College, Victoria Valenzuela of USC and Karina Ramos Villalobos of Cal Poly Humboldt.
Salazar’s 1970 slaying–at the hands of a sheriff’s deputy–led to the creation of CCNMA.
His death made it clear that more needed to be done to improve the coverage of issues affecting the growing Latino community.
A small group of Latino journalists, some friends and former colleagues of Salazar, began meeting to discuss ways to get more Latinos in journalism. Those meetings led to the incorporation of CCNMA in 1972, which became the first advocacy organization for journalists of color in the nation.

Photo: J. Emilio Flores

Emcees Kim Baldonado and Sid Garcia. Photo: J. Emilio Flores

Founders Table. Photo: J. Emilio Flores

(Above) Lynette Romero, Latina Journalist of the year.

(Left) All 10 Most Influential Latina Journalist of the year.

Photo: J. Emilio Flores