September 2016

NHMC in the News

2016 NHMC Los Angeles Impact Awards Luncheon

NHMC TV Writers Program Class of 2016

Latino Scene Showcase Announcement

D.C. Policy Shop Update

NHMC is Hiring

Fall Television Season

NHMC's Jessica J. González Honored by Public Knowledge

SNL's New Additions

Hate Speech, Hate Crimes & the Media

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NHMC in the News

Fox 5 New York - Hispandering LA Weekly - SNL Hires its First Latina Cast Member, and She's From L.A. Fox News Latino - 'Saturday Night Live' about to get Latino twist: Hispanic writer joins cast Politico - Trump's English-only campaign

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2016 NHMC Los Angeles Impact Awards Luncheon

[caption id="attachment_9576" align="aligncenter" width="443"] [L to R: Sid Garcia, Lalo Alcaraz, Elizabeth Espinosa, Luis J. Rodriguez, Alex Nogales, Laura Diaz, Dunia Elvir, Rick Garcia][/caption]Earlier this month, NHMC held its 14 annual Los Angeles Impact Awards Luncheon in Universal City, CA. Our honorees were Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis J. Rodriguez; "La Cucaracha" creator Lalo Alcaraz; Telemundo52 news anchor Dunia Elvir; ABC7 Eyewitness News reporter Sid Garcia; and KTLA reporter Elizabeth Espinosa. [caption id="attachment_9578" align="aligncenter" width="439"] [L to R: Big Boy, Laura Diaz, Rick Garcia][/caption]Big Boy, award-winning radio show host; Laura Diaz, Emmy award-winning anchor, reporter and producer at Fox 11 News; and Rick Garcia, Emmy award-winning anchor for CBS 2, were our amazing emcees for the afternoon. The day was filled with inspiring anecdotes, each proving how deserving our nominees were to be honored for all they've done for the Latino community. Before the last award was presented, NHMC President & CEO, Alex Nogales, took the stage to discuss the rise in hate speech in the media and to describe NHMC plans to stop it: "In the months to come, you will see PSAs, town hall meetings, press conferences and opinion pieces appearing in all media across the nation decrying the state of affairs and demanding better from all peoples living in our country." To watch the acceptance speeches as well as the honoree introduction videos, click here. To view all of the photographs from the afternoon, visit our Flickr page. For the press release recapping the luncheon, click here.

2016 Luncheon Sponsor:

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NHMC TV Writers Program Class of 2016

[caption id="attachment_9580" align="aligncenter" width="524"] [Top Row L to R: Victor Dueñas, Sofia Davila, Gene Augusto, Belinda Arredondo, Brian Otaño. Bottom Row L to R: Gabriela Montequin, Sammy Sarzoza, Renier Murillo, Pablo Goldstein, Jesenia Ruiz][/caption]NHMC congratulates the following writers selected to the 2016 class of the NHMC Television Writers Program: Belinda Arredondo, Gene Augusto, Sofia Davila, Victor Dueñas, Pablo Goldstein, Gabriela Montequin, Renier Murillo, Brian Otaño, Jesenia Ruiz, and Sammy Sarzoza. To learn more about the writers, click here. The NHMC Television Writers Program is an intensive scriptwriters workshop that prepares Latinos for writing jobs at the major television networks. The five-week total immersion workshop is designed to hone participants' script-writing skills and prepare them to best package and present their work to television network and show executives. Launched in 2003, the NHMC Television Writers Program was created to expand the amount of Latinos working behind the camera as a way to increase fair and accurate portrayals of Latinos on television. Over 35% of graduates have gone on to write for shows at a major television, cable network, and digital content provider. Graduates are currently working on fall shows such as Notorious (ABC), Rosewood (Fox), Superstore (NBC), NCIS (CBS), Blindspot (NBC), East Lost High (Hulu), Elena of Avalor (Disney Channel), The Flash (CW) and others. The 2016 NHMC Television Writers Program is sponsored by Disney/ABC Television Group and Comcast/NBCUniversal.

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Latino Scene Showcase Announcement

NHMC and the Los Angeles Theater Center (LATC) are happy to announce the scenes selected to be performed, and the actors cast for the 2016 Latino Scene Showcase. The following scenes will be performed live, on stage, in front of an audience of network executives, agents and managers in Hollywood on November 9, with the goal of infusing more diverse writing and acting talent into Hollywood:          

D.C. Policy Shop Update

NHMC Welcomes FCC’s Efforts to Increase Diverse and Independent Programming On Sept. 29, the FCC voted to issue proposed rules that would prohibit certain unfair clauses in pay TV programming contracts. The FCC has proposed eliminating clauses that have reduced programmers’ bargaining leverage and ability to distribute their content online. By removing these barriers, the FCC would empower independent programmers to reach larger audiences, in turn promoting competition, diversity, and innovation in the video marketplace. The proposed rules emerged from comments filed in the Commission’s Notice of Inquiry earlier this year. NHMC filed reply comments in the docket, encouraging the FCC to investigate and evaluate the very clauses the Commission has proposed eliminating. NHMC Continues Support of FCC’s Unlock the Box Proposal On Sept. 29, the FCC postponed voting on its proposal to open up the set-top box market and allow consumers the choice to avoid paying monthly device rental fees. The proposal will remain in circulation, and the Commission may vote on it at any time. Said Jessica J. González, NHMC’s executive vice president and general counsel: “We support the Commission’s efforts to empower consumers to choose both whether to utilize costly set-top boxes and how to access our favorite content. This is particularly important for Latino consumers on tight budgets, many of whom find the costs of cable and satellite television prohibitively high, as well as for the majority of Latino content creators who are not part of the select few to be carried by cable and satellite programmers. NHMC Joins Allies in Fighting for Consumers and Combating Injustice On August 24, NHMC joined several other consumer interest organizations in a letter asking the Federal Communications Commission to temporarily suspend operation of Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) service. Nineteen organizations asked the FCC to grant a petition that would temporarily prevent automobile manufacturers from operating devices using public spectrum until they can properly address consumer privacy and cybersecurity concerns. On August 31, NHMC joined 16 other civil rights and consumer advocacy groups in a shared statement addressing flaws in predictive policing tools that are being used by an increasing number of police departments nationwide. A report released by Upturn, a technology and policy firm, provides a more in-depth look at these predictive policing tools finding "a number of key risks in predictive policing, and a trend of rapid, poorly informed adoption in which those risks are often not considered." On September 26th, NHMC joined technology and civil rights organization in signing a letter to the moderators of the upcoming presidential debates requesting that the moderators ask the presidential candidates how they plan to expand access to affordable high-speed internet. Broadband Lifeline is Coming! On December 1, the FCC's Lifeline modernization order will finally go into effect, allowing low-income consumers to apply the modest Lifeline subsidy toward the cost of their broadband internet plan. Beginning in December, eligible customers will be able to apply the $9.25 monthly benefit toward mobile broadband plans offering at least 500 MB/month or a fixed broadband plan of at least 150 GB/month. Interested consumers can learn more at the FCC's website.

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NHMC is Hiring

Join the fight for responsible and inclusive media! Development Associate NHMC seeks a self-motivated individual with outstanding writing skills for the Development Associate position. Applicant should have previous experience working in a not-for-profit development office. This position is responsible for managing and growing a diverse portfolio of funders through the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of new and existing individual donor and foundation prospects. The ideal candidate is a compelling writer with excellent interpersonal and organizational skills. Click here to read the full job description and application details for the Development Associate position. NHMC Policy Fellowship Program - Spring 2017 Are you a current law student who is looking for a paid internship? NHMC is looking to hire one student for its Univision Policy Fellowship Program for the spring 2017 semester. The application deadline is October 31st. Depending on availability, fellows will have a chance to visit and network with execs at Univision. Students do not need to be located in the Washington, DC or Los Angeles, CA area to apply and participate. Email your resume, cover letter, and writing sample to brivas@www.nhmc.org. Spring 2017 Consideration Deadline: October 31 Include "Spring 2017 Policy Fellowship" in the email subject line. For additional information, click here.

Past Policy Fellowship Participants:

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Hate Speech, Hate Crimes & the Media

Late last month, the National Institute for Latino Policy released the National Latino Opinion Leaders Survey: Latino Opinion Leaders on Hate Speech and the Media. The research indicated that there has been an increase in hate speech against the Latino communities. Recently, NHMC has organized allies across the nation to discuss the rise in hate speech and to urge a national conversation about its' harm. At NHMC's recent Los Angeles Impact Awards Luncheon, Alex Nogales issued a call to action to the audience: "I turn to you and ask you to participate in the effort to do away with hate speech by calling attention to its consequences by standing up and demanding that those indulging in it cease their racist and bigoted, fear inducing mongering." To learn more about the survey, click here.

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NHMC's Jessica J. González Honored by Public Knowledge

Fall Television Season 

The fall television season has officially begun! Some of the fall's most critically acclaimed shows - such as Jane the Virgin, How To Get Away With Murder, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine - prominently feature Latinos in award-winning lead roles, while many promising shows posed to premiere this fall - including Pitch, The Exorcist, and Westworld - are notably led by rosters of impressive Latino newcomers and veterans alike. For a list of all of the TV shows prominently featuring Latinos compiled by NHMC Fellow, Alejandra Salazar, click here. Visit our Medium page LatinxMic for Alejandra's take on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, How to Get Away With Murder, Superstore, and NCIS and Criminal Minds.

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SNL's New Additions

This month, SNL finally brought on a Latino castmember and writer. After much criticism for their lack of diversity, Melissa Villaseñor has been added on as a castmember for the new season and Julio Torres has joined as a part of the writing team for the sketch comedy show.

Villaseñor, a native of the Los Angeles area, was previously on the competition show America's Got Talent. Her impressions video series, as part of Más Mejor, has gathered a following for the comedian.

SNL also announced that Julio Torres would be joining this season as a writer. Torres has been involved with Más Mejor as well, including writing and starring in their projects. He was previously nominated for an Emmy for guest writing on SNL.

Earlier in the year, Latino leaders, including our President & CEO Alex Nogales, met with the executives over at Saturday Night Live in hopes to get Latinos hired on the show.

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