Apr
23
2012
Michael
Scurato
In mid-April, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that it had secured the cooperation of all major cell phone providers to launch the PROTECTS Initiative designed to curb the recent rise of cell phone theft (See the various tip sheets at the end of this post). As our gadgets have gotten more advanced (and expensive!), they have become a target for thieves and propped up a burgeoning market of stolen devices. In fact, about 40 percent of robberies in major cities involve cell phones. More ...
The NLMC/NHMC Television Writers Program is an intensive scriptwriters workshop to prepare and place Latinos in writing jobs for the major television networks. The television scriptwriters workshop is designed to familiarize participants with the format, characters and storyline structure of specific shows that are currently on the air. This five-week, total immersion workshop is mentored and guided by former NBC V.P of Script Development, Geoff Harris. The workshop is conducted in Burbank,CA and a total of 10 writers are recruited nationwide from an established network of NHMC chapters, other non-profit agencies, schools, universities, guilds and media organizations. The goal is that the writers garner the skills necessary to obtain employment in the industry. The NLMC/NHMC Writers Program was created in accordance to NHMC’s mission to improve the image of American Latinos as portrayed by the media and increase the number of American Latinos employed in all facets of the media industry. The program directly responds to the lack of diverse writers in primetime network TV with the idea that if there are more diverse writers present at the writer’s table, more diversity will be reflected on TV. More ...
Apr
05
2012
Michael
Scurato
NHMC has long contended that an open Internet is essential to having our voices heard on the important issues of the day –creatively, politically, or otherwise. While the current state of media consolidation makes it unlikely that very many of us will ever have an opportunity to own a newspaper, television station, or full power radio station, anybody with access to an Internet connection can go online to blog, record podcasts, or upload original video content and instantly reach a worldwide audience. This is especially important for Latinos, where policy discussions on issues such as immigration often devolve into hate speech with little opportunity for rebuttal. More ...
By Danielle Chynoweth
Ninety percent of Americans use radio at least once a week, making it the most common point of connection today. And thanks to the passage of the Local Community Radio Act, groups will soon have the opportunity to start community radio stations in cities and towns across the country—as early as next summer. This marks the largest expansion of community radio in U.S. history, and in many areas, will be the first such opportunity in more than 30 years. More ...
By: Fabiola Rivas, NHMC’s 2011 Google Policy Fellow
This past summer, I had the honor of working as a Google Policy Fellow with the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC), an organization that opens the doors for Latinos in the media. I had the opportunity to work closely with Jessica Gonzalez, NHMC’s President of Policy & Legal Affairs, and Michael Scurato, NHMC’s Policy Counsel, to advance NHMC’s agenda in Washington, DC. I worked on a wide variety of projects and utilized a broad range of skills, legal and non-legal. I had my first real taste of non-profit, civil rights advocacy. For me, this fellowship has given me the perfect foundation upon which I can build my career and my future. More ...
“During the program we were each required to write a spec episode of an existing television show.”
by Omaira Galarza
This fall I was fortunate enough to be a part of the NHMC/NLMC Writers Program. In television the saying, “It’s all about who you know,” is an undeniable fact. With this writers program NHMC/NLMC provides upcoming television writers from all over the nation, the opportunity to improve their skill set and meet valuable industry resources along the way. Under the guidance of our mentor, Geoff Harris, the 11 of us who completed the program this year benefitted from the workshop, the networking, and every moment in between. More ...
Dec
12
2011
Michael
Scurato
During the week of Thanksgiving, as most were traveling, cooking, and enjoying some family time, you may have noticed that something happened with AT&T’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile. If you didn’t, it is hard to fault you. It was by AT&T’s design that this drama played out on a national holiday when the farthest thing from most people’s minds was telecom industry news. More ...
In the early 1990s, local media played a central role in the Rwanda genocide that aimed to get rid of the Tutsi, a minority ethnic group in the country. Between 500,000 to a million people were killed in Rwanda – a country of only seven million people. Before the genocide began, state-owned local print and radio stations promoted anti-Tutsi hate speech that became not only acceptable but the norm. Initially, the hate speech focused on demonizing the Tutsi. By 1994, the hate speech had escalated to the point of directly inciting violence and murder. What happened in Rwanda is an anomaly that now serves as an international reminder of how media can be used to harm society. May we never forget Rwanda. More ...
Oct
07
2011
Rosalia
Tenorio
Dear Friends of NHMC,
For years John and Ken of KFI AM 640 have created an atmosphere of hate and intolerance in Los Angeles, with their incendiary rhetoric legitimizing violence and discrimination against people of color and others.
The most recent example is their attacks on Jorge-Mario Cabrera. On September 1st John and Ken began ranting about immigrants, and targeted Mr. Cabrera for his advocacy on their behalf. John and Ken provided Mr. Cabrera’s office and personal cell phone numbers and encouraged their listeners to call and harass him. Mr. Cabrera proceeded to receive over 450 abusive and threatening calls. Many of the callers repeated John and Ken’s exact words, and then wished death upon Mr. Cabrera and/or threatened his physical safety. And indeed, many callers directly referenced John and Ken in their nasty messages. More ...
Oct
04
2011
Rosalia
Tenorio
Alex Nogales Is Honored with the Everett C. Parker Award
PASADENA—(NHMC – Sep 28, 2011)— The President and CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition, NHMC, received the Everett C. Parker Award in recognition for his work on public interest media and telecommunications advocacy during a ceremony held in Washington, DC. More ...
Oct
04
2011
Rosalia
Tenorio
Jessica González Joins Select Group of Media and Telecommunications Leaders
The National Hispanic Media Coalition, NHMC, celebrates its VP of Policy and Legal Affairs, Jessica González, on her appointment to the Federal Communications Commission’s Diversity Committee.
The mission of the Federal Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age — AKA “Diversity Committee” — is to advise the FCC on policies aimed to enhance diversity in media and telecommunications. The main focus of the Diversity Committee will be to promote universal broadband access by historically disadvantaged people, as well as to further their employment in the workforce of the telecommunications and related industries. More ...
Sep
29
2011
Michael
Scurato
In July, NHMC asked the FCC to consider making after school computer center staffing and teacher digital literacy training costs eligible services to be funded through the Universal Service Fund. The rationale behind the request was that a school computer lab could be a valuable resource to students that lack a computer or Internet connection at home, provided that the labs are open after school and staffed by educators who know how to use the technology. Unfortunately, the FCC has just released its “Eligible Services List” (ESL) for 2012 and denied NHMC’s request in a footnote near the end of the accompanying Order (Footnote 62, to be exact). More ...
Sep
28
2011
Rosalia
Tenorio
Latino Leaders Demand that Clear Channel Remove John and Ken from the Air
The National Hispanic Media Coalition, NHMC, and its local and national allies – over 10 groups so far – are working together to hold John and Ken accountable for their hate speech against Latinos broadcasted on their show. The John and Ken Show airs on KFI AM 640, one of eight Clear Channel-owned stations in the Los Angeles area. More ...
Sep
26
2011
Jessica
Gonzalez
This semester NHMC is pleased to be hosting two outstanding lawyers-in-training as part of its legal internship program. You have already met Liz Ruiz, and today I write to introduce you to Brenda Montes. Brenda recently graduated from the UCLA School of Law. In August she completed the California bar exam and she is now awaiting her results. More ...
Sep
15
2011
Rosalia
Tenorio
CONSUMER ALERT: US GOVERNMENT FINES PRE-PAID CALLING CARD COMPANIES FOR FRAUD – PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THIS ABUSE!
Consider the following facts: Latinos may be losing up to $1 million per day because of fraudulent prepaid calling cards. The average calling card only delivers 60% of the minutes advertised. The cost-per-minute rates for prepaid phone cards can be up to 87% higher than expected. More ...
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