NAHP Conference on Digital Information Publishing.

The National Association of Hispanic Publications today announced that last week’s 23rd Annual Conference & Business Exposition held in Atlanta, Georgia was a major success delivering attendees and exhibitors a focused event that provided concrete lessons learned and best practices for Hispanic newspapers and information publishers, editors, journalists and media professionals. Now in its twenty-third year, the event produced strong attendance, attracting leading industry
professionals from around the world.

The Conference, co-chaired by Judith Martinez-Sadri, Co-founder and Editor of Atlanta Latino Newspaper, and Lino Dominguez, former publisher of Mundo Hispanico featured many great forums for sharing and learning about the latest newspaper and information technologies, marketing strategies and web publishing concepts. Highlights of the event included the Publisher’s Best Practices Roundtable, a case study and analysis of industry innovation featuring Lupita Colmenero, publisher of El Hispano News Dallas; Hernan Guaracao, publisher of Al Dia Philadelphia; and Adan Guerrero of La Frontera McAllen, discussing the future of Hispanic news media, content strategies and technology; The Immigration Day Luncheon sponsored by Cox Newspaper and moderated by Anibal Torres, publisher of Mundo Hispanico in Atlanta; “Hispanic Print in a Digital World” a strategic briefing by Alicia Morga, Founder & CEO of Consorte Media; and “The New World of Hispanic Print: Thinking for Business Success” by Monica Lozano, publisher of La Opinion and senior vice president ImpreMedia LLC which explored the keys to success for professionals and leaders in the Hispanic media business.

“NAHP helps me keep my focus. With the many downward trends in the general newspaper market, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that the Hispanic newspaper market is different. We are growing in readership and circulation,” said Fanny Miller, of El Latino Newspaper in San Diego. Robert Bard, publisher of LatinaStyle Magazine, thought the Publisher’s Best Practices Roundtable was best. “The presenters were very knowledgeable and did a great job of sparking ideas. Also, it was great to network with other participants and see what they were doing in the way of marketing and new products,” he said.

The conference featured numerous networking events, including a welcome reception hosted by Atlanta Latino Newspaper and sponsored by Chivas at the historic Fox Theatre, a special evening at the New World of Coca-Cola Museum at Pemberton Place sponsored by the Coca-Cola Company, the 23rd Annual Gala Reception sponsored by Miller Brewing Company, and the Gala Dinner sponsored by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. The closing Fiesta was sponsored by Anheuser Busch.

Education session sponsors included the U.S. Army, Univision, General Motors, Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Cox Newspapers. Continental Airlines served as the official airline of the 23rd Annual NAHP Conference and
Business Exposition.

“This year’s conference was outstanding. Our presenters offered dozens of new, innovative ideas and this year’s exhibitors showcased truly great products and services,” said NAHP National President Clara Padilla Andrews, who is also publisher of El Hispanic News in Portland, Oregon. She added “The 24th Annual Conference planning committee will be led by Jose Luis B. Garza of El Periodico USA of McAllen, Texas and we are now looking for speakers for the 2009 event.”

“We recognize that Hispanic newspaper and information publishers have their own unique set of marketing challenges and content requirements,” said Martinez-Sadri. “With that in mind, we built this year’s event to provide newspapers and their publishers with solid, hard-hitting discussions, roundtables and networking sessions around real-world best practices.”