Pou, Ruiz Resolution Designating Sept. 20 as Hispanic Journalist Pride Day Approved

TRENTON – A joint resolution sponsored by Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Nellie Pou and Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Teresa Ruiz designating September 20th of each year as Hispanic American Journalist Pride Day was approved by the full Senate today.

“Journalists are under fire today by so many people, including our president,” said Senator Pou (D-Passaic/Bergen). “So it’s important to recognize what all journalists do. But it is even more important that the press in America represents the vibrant and diverse cultures that comprise America. Besides covering national and international news, Hispanic journalists also bring a unique perspective to their reporting by writing about the concerns of the Hispanic community as well as its pride and joy. We need that perspective to better understand the context of what is happening in so many of our communities. This is particularly true of what we have seen happening to immigrant families crossing our southern border. Hispanic journalists highlight the culture and diversity in the media and in journalism.”

“Designating a day to honor Hispanic journalists is fitting during Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Senator Ruiz (D-Essex) “Hispanic journalists have deep connections to the continually growing Hispanic communities in New Jersey. We need journalists who not only see the vibrant stories that come out of our Hispanic communities, but understand the context of them in a way that only people who are of part of those communities can. These journalists can bring an added dimension to the reporting on the horrific immigration policies that have been carried out on our southern border with Mexico. Hispanic journalists should be honored for what they do every day of the year.”

Hispanic Americans represent 17.4 percent of the U.S. population. Hispanic journalists make significant contributions in the news industry, developing careers in print, broadcast and online journalism in English and Spanish-language media.

The mission of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is to increase the percentage of Hispanics working in the nation’s newsrooms and to improve news coverage of the Hispanic community. NAHJ is the nation’s largest professional organization for Hispanic journalists with more than 1,400 members working in English and Spanish.

The joint resolution, SJR-14, was approved by a vote of 40-0.