Serving as a regional director for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists is important because it's an opportunity to work, share experiences, and mentor students and journalists.

Ninette has a master’s from the University of Arkansas’ School of Journalism and Strategic Media, with a documentary film focus and a  bachelor’s in sociology from San Diego State University.

Both films produced and directed by Ninette have been accepted to national and international film festivals.

The Guatemalan native is a veteran award-winning news journalist.

She has worked as a certified war correspondent for CNN and has covered news for radio, print, television for nearly three decades.

I’m running for re-election as Region 6 Director on the NAHJ Board. I recently joined the board in this role in November 2020. Within about the first six months, we created two new professional chapters in my region: NAHJ Wisconsin and the NAHJ Greater Cleveland Chapter. The goal of these chapters are to bring journalists from these regions together and provide them with not only professional support but the tools they need to help tell more stories from our Latino community. 

Representing the Midwest states, I want to continue serving on the board so we can further our efforts of #MoreLatinosInNews and continue to push for more reporting on the the Latino perspective in Middle America.

It was in 2014 that I actually first ran for a position on the National Board. For the 2014-2015 term, I served as the NAHJ National Student Representative and it was during my year that I successfully advocated to lower membership rates for students. 

As a product of NAHJ, I want to continue leading the organization that I so dearly love. I first joined NAHJ when I was in high school and since then credit NAHJ for my mentors and career growth. As I continue to grow in my career, I’m excited to turn around and help the future generations of aspiring journalists.

I report in the largest Latino media market in the nation, but you might not know it by reading bylines and watching many of the newscasts in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area.  L.A. County alone has as many Latinos as there are the entire state of Florida. Still, many media outlets do not view Latinos as their audience, and therefore feel no need to promote Latinos under the mistaken notion that they won’t bring in viewers, listeners, or readers. Unfortunately, this is also true across the West Coast and it’s having a detrimental effect on our communities.

Latinos have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, paying for others’ failures with their health and their finances. Better and more accurate coverage of our communities could have shed light on the inequities sooner and perhaps saved lives.

Hello everyone! This is Jorge Flores. I am Co-Chair at the NAHJ Student Committee and the new President of the Latino Journalists at California State University Fullerton for Fall Semester 2021.

My passion for working for our Latino community through journalism leads me to constant growth and development for our student chapters. That is why I am running to become a candidate for Student Representative.

Here, I share some goals we will accomplish if I can become the next Student Representative. NAHJ student chapters will become stronger, more reliable, and effective. It’s time to connect students, professionals, cultures, the diversity within our community and nurture our bilingualism.

1. Effective communication and networking between chapters. The creation and promotion of panels and collaborations between chapters around the regions from social media up to actual events. Having real connections will provide confidence and support from members to members.

2. The NAHJ Student Committee as the center for student chapters facing challenges or in need of support. The Student Committee will be a place for concerns, ideas, and proposals to be heard by the National Board. Assuring transparency and communication will serve as pillars the SC will be guided by.

3. Bilingualism nurtures our Latinx roots. The promotion of English and Spanish languages equally. It’s time to promote the English and Spanish production of documents, projects, and work. Taking actions that support our Spanish speakers, English learners, or anyone interested in dominating both languages within our organization will encourage them to discover their full potential as bilingual journalists.

4. Diversity and Inclusion. There are several groups within our community that need support and recognition. The increase of events related to LGBTQ+ and Afro Latinx members for example, will bring us into a safe place to express who we are and promote diversity, tolerance, and respect; values that are in need these days.

It is a pleasure to share my interest in making our organization a safe and encouraging place to become extraordinary journalists, running to become a candidate for the Student Representative position. This is just the beginning.

¡Vamos con todo!

Español

¡Hola a todos! Este es Jorge Flores. Soy Coordinador del Comité de Estudiantes de NAHJ y el nuevo Presidente de Periodistas Latinos en la Universidad Estatal de California Fullerton para el semestre de otoño de 2021.

Mi pasión por trabajar para nuestra comunidad latina a través del periodismo me lleva a un crecimiento y desarrollo constante para nuestros capítulos estudiantiles. Por eso me postulo para ser candidato a Representante Estudiantil.

Aquí, comparto algunas metas que lograremos si puedo convertirme en el próximo Representante Estudiantil. Los capítulos de estudiantes de NAHJ serán más fuertes, más confiables y efectivos. Es hora de conectar estudiantes, profesionales, cultural, la diversidad en nuestra comunidad y nutrir nuestro bilingüismo.

1. Comunicación y trabajo en redes eficaces entre capítulos. La creación y promoción de paneles y colaboraciones entre capítulos de las regiones desde las redes sociales hasta eventos. Tener conexiones reales proporcionará confianza y apoyo de miembros a miembros.

2. El Comité de Estudiantes de NAHJ como el centro para los capítulos de estudiantes que enfrentan desafíos o necesitan apoyo. El Comité de Estudiantes será un lugar para que las inquietudes, ideas y propuestas sean escuchadas por el Comité Nacional. Garantizar la transparencia y la comunicación serán los pilares por los que se guiará el Comité Estudiantil.

3. El bilingüismo nutre nuestras raíces latinx. La promoción de los idiomas inglés y español por igual. Es hora de promover la producción de documentos, proyectos y trabajos en inglés y español. Tomar acciones que apoyen a nuestros hispanohablantes, estudiantes de inglés o cualquier persona interesada en dominar ambos idiomas dentro de nuestra organización los alentará a descubrir todo su potencial como periodistas bilingües. 4. Diversidad e inclusión. Hay varios grupos dentro de nuestra comunidad que necesitan apoyo y reconocimiento. El aumento de eventos relacionados con miembros LGBTQ + y Afro Latinx, por ejemplo, nos llevará a un lugar seguro para expresar quiénes somos y promover la diversidad, la tolerancia y el respeto; valores que se necesitan en estos días.

Es un placer compartir mi interés en hacer de nuestra organización un lugar seguro y alentador para convertirnos en periodistas extraordinarios por ello me postulo para convertirme en candidato para el puesto de Representante Estudiantil. Este es solo el comienzo.

Jorge Flores is the new President of the Latino Journalists Club at California State University Fullerton and Co-Chair at the NAHJ Student Committee. He is currently a Political Science major and Journalism minor student. Jorge's passion and experience with organizations that represent the youth, led him to aspire to become the next NAHJ Student Representative in order to continue the improvement of Latinx representation in journalism.

Español

Jorge Flores es el nuevo presidente del Club de Periodistas Latinos de la Universidad Estatal de California Fullerton y coordinador del Comité de Estudiantes de NAHJ. Actualmente es estudiante de Ciencias Políticas y Periodismo. La pasión y experiencia de Jorge con organizaciones que representan a la juventud, lo llevó a aspirar a convertirse en el próximo Representante Estudiantil de la NAHJ para continuar mejorando la representación de los latinos en el periodismo.