This week’s Hispanic Blog Profile is with Marisa Treviño, founder and president of the LatinaLista blog. Treviño is a Dallas-based syndicated journalist and local public radio commentator writing about family, education and other social justice issues for over a decade.
HPRB: Tell us about your self, any relevant journalism experience you have and why you started your blog?
MT: I am a professional journalist with over 15 years in the business. While I wrote features that covered women’s and family issues, I was primarily known for my opinion writing which covered politics and human rights issues. Though I have held editorial positions at various magazines — city, parenting, economic development and newspaper industry — I didn’t work on staff at a newspaper. Being a freelance writer for newspapers, I was frustrated with my publishing schedule set forth by editors who, understandably, wanted to give all freelance contributors publishing opportunities. Unfortunately, that translated into getting published about once a month. I decided to create Latina Lista as my outlet to publish on a daily schedule whatever was on my mind and not have to worry about a certain topic being rejected by an editor.
HPRB: Who is the target audience of your blog and what data can you provide us about the size of your audience?
MT: My audience has evolved from when I first started Latina Lista. In the beginning, I was targeting Latinas because I felt our voices and our presence were too marginalized in mainstream media. As Latina Lista evolved and began covering more political/human rights stories, I retained my Latina base but also acquired readers who ranged from lawyers and congressional aides (with some congressmen) to national non-profits executive directors and grassroots organizers. In other words, there is a good portion of my readership who would be classified as “influentials.” As of now, I have about 400,000 hits a month and about 1300 unique visitors a day.
HPRB: What makes your blog unique?
MT: I think the blog is unique because 1. It offers political insight from a Latina perspective who doesn’t reside in the Beltway and doesn’t just mix opinion but tries to offer solutions as well. 2. It reflects the fact that Latinas/os are not defined by just one issue, like immigration. We are a complex and diversified group that have a whole range of interests. In addition to the main political blog, Palabra Final, Latina Lista carries other blog sections that appeal to those people who aren’t necessarily into politics but still want that Latina perspective when it comes to other things like book reviews or profiles of successful Latina entrepreneurs.
HPRB: Do you have any accompanying Twitter, Facebook or other social media contact information you would like to share?
MT: I am on Twitter (twitter.com/latinalista) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/latinalista).
HPRB: What is your blog’s web address and how frequently do you update your posts?
MT: Like a regular news site, I update Latina Lista on a daily basis. The URL is http://www.latinalista.net
HPRB: What is the key contact information for you and or your blog?
MT: If people wish to send press releases to me, I ask that they be sent to latinalista@airmail.net with Press Release in the subject line. For all other correspondence, I can be reached at mtrevino@airmail.net
HPRB: What topics are of special interest to your blog and which ones are definitely not?
MT: Latina Lista is an English-language site that targets English-speaking Latinos. Therefore, news/products/services that only target Spanish-speakers would not be featured on Latina Lista. Otherwise, I am open to receiving all kinds of announcements. If those announcements can be tied to a news event or I can be shown that it’s particularly newsworthy, the item has a better chance of being published on Latina Lista.
HPRB: What are the best days and hours to reach you and/or your staff with a specific type of story or interview? What are the worst days/times?
MT: Because time is so tight, I prefer to be contacted via e-mail. My favorite e-mails are those that give me everything in that initial contact: a high-res logo of the campaign/product/service, etc; detailed information about what it is and any special info about why it should be interesting for my readers; the URL of the web site (I don’t post anything that doesn’t have an online component) and the full contact information of the person sending the e-mail. I try to acknowledge every e-mail I get and when I post it, will usually send an e-mail to the person alerting them to the fact that it is now posted on Latina Lista.
HPRB: What are your policies in terms of accepting press kits, photos and/or multimedia video files?
MT: I am open to accepting press kits, photos and or multimedia files and prefer them included in the initial contact phase.
HPRB: Is there anything you would like to add about your blog or about working with you?
MT: My goal with Latina Lista is to inform my readers and give them the latest information and best tools and resources they need in their daily lives. I am most appreciative to those agencies and people who can help me achieve my mission.