Renowned Panelists, scholars join Hispanic Media Conference at FIU’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Florida International University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication today announced its selection of panelists for “Hispanics and the Media: The Emerging Power Conference” on Oct. 18 at the university’s Biscayne Bay Campus.

“We are bringing to our conference some of the top scholars and professionals on Hispanic news media in the United States to discuss the state of the Hispanic media, its major issues, trends, and opportunities,” said Raul Reis, Dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Alina Falcon, Telemundo Network Executive Vice President of news and alternative programming, is the keynote speaker.

She will be joined by other speakers and panelists at the one-day conference. The participants and their topics include:

• Alejandro Aguirre, deputy editor-publisher at Diario Las Americas and former president of the Inter American Press Association, on the present and future of Hispanic daily newspaper.
• Dr. Alan Albarran, University of North Texas, on the growth of Hispanic media firms in the news space.
• Dr. Guillermo Avila-Saavedra, Salem State University, on coverage by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today of the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.
• Dr. Amy Jo Coffey, University of Florida, on which language is best for reaching bilingual Hispanics.
• Ariel Coro, founder of Tutecnología.com, author and digital reporter, on what is working and what is not for Hispanic media websites, portals, blogs, and on their presence in social media platforms.
• Ed Fernandez, divisional general manager at E.W. Scripps and vice president-general manager at WXYZ ABC7 Detroit, on the way English and Spanish-language media cover Hispanic issues.
• Professor Rosanna Fiske, Dr. Sigal Segev and Dr. Weirui Wang, FIU’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, on acculturation, individualism, and Hispanics’ motivations to use social media.
• Dr. Felix Gutierrez, Annenberg School of Journalism, on the influence of Hispanic media over the past 200 years. He will present the exhibit “The Voices of Justice.”
• Dr. Ariana Hernandez-Reguant, University of California at San Diego, on why Spanish language media and advertising oscillate between community and nation, between ethnic enclave and pan-Latinidad in America.
• Rissig Licha, president of 360 Strategy Mix and former partner and general manager of Fleishman-Hillard, on keys to the survival of Hispanic daily newspapers.
• Amy Mitchell, deputy director of the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, on why Hispanic media outlets are growing more than mainstream media.
• Borja Perez, senior vice president of Digital and Social Media at Telemundo, on the network’s digital strategy.
• Isabella Sánchez, vice president of Media Integration at Zubi Advertising, on the recent trend by major media companies to create platforms that target bicultural Hispanics with culturally relevant news content in English, and the potential implications for marketers.
• Dr. Federico Subervi, Texas State University in San Marcos, on what Hispanic-oriented media are offering in political content and what general-market media are offering regarding news and information that can be relevant to Hispanics’ involvement in American politics.
• Emilio Sanchez, CEO of VOXXI.com, on how emerging journalism models are a must as old models of news delivery change.
• Aminda Marques, Executive Editor and Vice President at The Miami Herald, on mainstream media coverage of Hispanic issues.
• Dr. Felipe de Ortego y Gasca, Western New Mexico University, on the “bipolar” Hispanic in mainstream news media.
• Dr. Kenton T. Wilkinson, Texas Tech University, on the development of U.S. TV news directed at Hispanic audiences, with particular attention to the 1990s to today.
• A representative from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists will analyze the role of Latinas in the nation’s major newspapers.

The conference will be held 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Registration fee for professionals is $50; for students, a donation of $15.

The SJMC obtained a special rate at Newport Beachside Hotel and Resort, 16701 Collins Ave. in nearby Sunny Isles Beach. For reservations and a special room rate, call 800-327-5476 and provide FIU’s reservation code: 568539. You may also email reservations to reservations@newportbeachsideresort.com with the subject line: FIU Code 568539

For more information on the event, including registration and the agenda, please visit http://go.fiu.edu/HispanicConference