Boston-New England Chapter Board Election 2021

The Boston-New England Chapter elections committee opened the ballot to vote on this year's board election on June 7th. Polls close on June 17, at 5 p.m. ET and results will be announced soon after. You can find the finalized list of candidates who appear on the ballot below.

Only current Boston-New England Chapter eligible voters are able to see this form, if you're unable to see the form and you're an eligible voter, please contact us at [email protected] to make sure you're able to cast your vote.

President (uncontested): Cindy E. Rodríguez View candidate statement	Vice President (uncontested): Jason Velazquez View candidate statement
Financial Officer (uncontested): Vanessa de la Torre View candidate statement	Secretary: Open position

2021 Election Timeline for chapter board elections:

May 17th:  Call for Nominations
May 28^th: Deadline to submit 1 signature before 11:59 p.m. Deadline to become a member in good standing and be eligible to vote
May 28^th–31^st: Vetting process.
May 31^st: Ballot is announced and campaigning begins
June 7^th: Online voting begin (Polls open two weeks before the polls close)
June 17^th: Polls close at 5 p.m. ET and results are announced

Candidates Statements:

President (uncontested):
Cindy E. Rodríguez

If elected president, I will work with our members to formulate a plan to push for better coverage of Latinx issues and for employment parity. We will push for an equitable number of Latinx journalists — especially in newsroom leadership and public-facing positions such as columnists, hosts and anchors.

We will do so by analyzing local news media, using information from an anonymized survey of Latinx journalists in New England, and doing a content audit of the largest New England news media companies to assess how Latinx communities are portrayed and characterized and what news stories were ignored. The results will become the basis for an inaugural report that will be used to hold news organizations accountable. For more details, see https://bit.ly/CindyRodriguezforPrez

We will also hold workshops for our members, seek to grow our chapter, and establish an annual awards ceremony to celebrate the work of Latinx journalists and allies who do courageous and enlightening reporting on issues that affect Latinx communities.

I joined NAHJ as a college student and have given back to the organizations over the decades in many ways, including as a national board member. During my 20 years as a journalist, my reporting focused on illuminating issues affecting marginalized communities. At Emerson College, I infuse social justice in my journalism classes. I look forward to working with our executive board and our members to reimagine the NAHJ New England chapter as a powerful force of change. Thank you for your vote!

Vice President (uncontested):
Jason Velazquez

The Hispanic population grew to nearly 20 percent, and yet we remain largely invisible. Since I discovered the annual "Network Brownout” I was certain that our presence in mainstream media would begin to represent proportionality. The 2017 report noted that "neglect of the coverage of the nation’s largest ethnic minority population has remained practically frozen in time or has worsened.” Today we still witnessing a backslide.

Hard to fathom given that we are a people so uniquely given to storytelling, right?

We must ascend to newsroom positions from which we can set editorial policy. How Hispanics are portrayed in newspapers and on televisions in living rooms across the United States has a huge bearing on how we are perceived in the minds of our neighbors and co-workers, as well as the space we occupy in the hearts of our fellow community members. We know that the flames of hatred are easily kindled, particularly during times of scarcity and unease.

The answer is not to retreat, but to move forward — not as a monolith, which we will never be — but as a true, diverse community of professionals. The Northeast Chapter of the NAHJ has tremendous untapped potential energy. This is the year to strike a spark. In addition to helping spread the word about opportunities, Region 2 should buzz with camaraderie, advice, social events, and personal connections that last a lifetime. I’m excited to put my shoulder to wheel, as part of the executive team, and harness that energy.

Financial Officer (uncontested):
Vanessa de la Torre

Hi friends. I’m running for the NAHJ New England board because I heard the call to action and want us to rise up together.

My name is Vanessa de la Torre and I lead the New England News Collaborative, a partnership of public media stations that believes diversity is crucial for our sustainability. In the past year, I’ve overseen strategic planning, new DEI initiatives and the budget — strengths I would bring as financial officer for the NAHJ New England chapter.

If I’m elected, you will benefit from:

• New professional development and training events, whether you’re an up-and-comer or seasoned journalist.
• More networking opportunities for our talented NAHJ members. That also means expanding our reach in the northern New England states of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, as well as in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
• An energized board creating deeper partnerships with affinity chapters in our region. The power of collaboration makes us stronger and amplifies our voice.

A little more about me: I'm based at Connecticut Public and live near Hartford with my wife and toddler. Originally from El Centro, Calif., I moved this way after graduating from Princeton and receiving my master’s degree from Stanford University’s Graduate Program in Journalism.

I’ve won local, regional and national awards for my reporting, and bring professional experience in newspapers, radio, public TV and digital. I arrived in Connecticut 15 years ago for work — thanks to connections made at the national NAHJ conference — and I want to help lead the New England chapter’s resurgence.

Together, we can build opportunities for our individual and collective success. Thank you for voting.

If you have any questions regarding this chapter's election contact Yaneth Guillen, Director of Training and Membership at NAHJ, [email protected]. You can also email us at [email protected] with any additional questions.
Good luck!

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