NAHP Announces Latina Awards Winners @ The Media Summit.

The National Association of Hispanic Publications, Inc. announced the winners of the Latina Publisher and Latina Journalist of the Year Awards. The winners were recognized at the Latina Publisher’s Luncheon, which took place on June 10, 2004, at the Willard InterContinental in Washington D.C. during the NAHP, Inc. Media Summit.

The Luncheon, attended by more than 60 people, was keynoted by Congresswoman Grace Napolitano and moderated by Clara Padilla, NAHP Latina and Media Summit Committee Chairwoman and Publisher of El Hispanic News.

Norma Maximo, publisher of El Aguila del Hudson Valley in White Plains, New York, and Valeria Fernandez, reporter of La Voz in Phoenix, Arizona, were recognized for their contribution to the empowerment of the Hispanic print and the well-being of the Hispanic community.

They were presented with commemorative Latina Publisher and Journalists of the Year Awards as well as round-trip tickets from Southwest Airlines and complimentary hotel accommodations from El Mundo for a weekend in Las Vegas.

“I’ll take this award in the name of all Latina journalists who make a difference in the community and open paths to Hispanics,” said Fernandez, 26, a native of Uruguay who published her first book when she was only 17 years old. She also reported as a stringer for La Opinion in the trial of Phoenix Bishop Thomas O’Brien.

Norma Maximo was recognized for her remarkable work strengthening the image of the Hispanic people in the Hudson Valley. Her newspaper today is used in English as a Second Language, Spanish and Latin American Studies classrooms.

At the Luncheon, Robert Bard, Publisher of LatinaStyle magazine in Washington D.C. announced that the magazine will sponsor next year’s Latina Awards.

The sponsorship will provide the Publisher of the Year with $5,000 to be spent on a journalism internship for her publication. The Latina Journalist of the Year will receive $2,000 to be used “as she pleases”, he said.

Napolitano, a distinguished Latina leader, addressed the importance of developing opportunities for Hispanics and eloquently spoke about the lack of federal funds invested in Hispanic advertising. She also said more partnerships between Hispanic print and Hispanic representatives should be encouraged and developed.

“You are the minority media and you represent the largest minority in the country,” said Napolitano. “We need to learn how to use that power.”

Maria Echaveste, former Deputy Chief of Staff for President Clinton, who strongly advocated the bill that encouraged Federal Hispanic outreach campaigns during the Clinton’s administration, was recognized at the Luncheon with the Latina Leadership Recognition Award for her strong leadership and commitment to the Hispanic community. Echaveste, a D.C.-based lawyer, is currently leading “The Immigrant Vote 2004” campaign.