As an active dues paying member of the
San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists (SAAHJ) for a few years, I am
proud of what our organization accomplishes in promoting the next generation of
young aspiring journalists and honoring its own.
Established in 1987, the San Antonio
Association of Hispanic Journalists is composed of local Hispanic,
African-American, and Anglo journalists, public relations professionals and
students interested in communications or the public relations industry. In the
past three or four years we have noticed the increased interest of local
college students as well as high school students wishing to pursue a career in
journalism joining our ranks as members.
Our organization takes great pride in
our effort to continually raise funds as part of our charter to offer young
students an opportunity to qualify for scholarships for college and pursue a
career in one of the communications field.
This year July 15th we will host our 19th
Scholarship and Awards Gala at the Grand Hyatt, 600 E. Market.
One of our notable success stories is a
SAAHJ former past President
Francisco Vara-Orta who served four years ago, who was also a past
recipient of more than one scholarship from the organization over the years.
Some of our past presidents are Express
News Columnist Elaine Ayala, Express-News
Metro Editor Nora Lopez, Express-News Reporter Diane Fuentes and
Univision Reporter Gary Cooper who resigned earlier this year. Texas Public
Reporter (TPR) Joey Palacios serves as the interim President and newly elected
President for next year. He will begin his elected term after the gala.
During our gala we will once again award
well over $25,000 in scholarships to the next generation of media and
communications professionals as well as spotlight three honorees.
This year’s honorees include: the
Corozon de Oro Award recipient is CNN Reporter Jim Acosta, Express-News
Reporter John Gonzalez is the Henry Guerra Lifetime Achievement Award for
Excellence in Journalism, recipient, and the Community Service Award recipient
is RAICES Immigration Legal Service Agency.
Some former recipients are Univision-41
Anchorwoman Monica Navarro who
was named the recipient of the Henry
Guerra Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Journalism and
Fox 29 News Anchorwoman Karen
Martinez who was named the recipient of the Community Service
Award. That Award was presented posthumously to Martinez’s family at that
Gala since Martinez lost her battle with cancer.
Others include: KSAT-12 Reporter Jessie Degollado who was the
recipient of the Henry Guerra Award
and Father David Garcia recipient
of the Community Service Award. On a personal note, I was privileged to work
with Degollado in 1983 at the ABC affiliate in Weslaco where she anchored the
five o’clock news, while I served as a general assignments reporter.
With more Hispanic media markets opening
up and competing with the mainstream media for the Hispanic viewers, and a push
for more Hispanic Journalists working in the mainstream media, the SAAHJ is
doing its part to promote quality and excellence over quantity.
Anyway, as always, what I write is “Just
a Thought.”
Steve Walker is a Vietnam Veteran and former Justice of the
Peace and Journalist.
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