March 2010

In this issue:

President’s Message
D.C. Update
Hate Speech Update
2010 Census
FCC Consumer Broadband
FCC Commissioner Copps on USC Study
NHMC Jobs, Internships and Programs
2010 Hope Conference
Musicians and Health Insurance
Hispanic Youth Showcase
eMapa Survey

President’s Message

The stars were indeed bright in Beverly Hills on Friday, February 26^th as NHMC hosted its 13^thannual Impact Awards Galaat the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. This year, Wilmer Valderrama and Jose Luis Valenzuela served as the Masters of Ceremony. Valderrama, an advocate for the Latino community, is well known for his role as Fez on Fox’s "That 70’s Show." He can be seen in the dramatic film, THE DRY LAND, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Jose Luis Valenzuela is the Artistic Director of the Latino Theater Company, THE NEW LATC, an award-winning theater director and a tenured professor at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film & Television. Following a champagne reception, comedian Erik Rivera had the crowd roaring as he performed a short stand-up routine. Young actor Rico Rodriguez received an award for Outstanding Performance in a Comedy Television Series for his role as ‘Manny Delgado’ in ABC’s new hot program, "Modern Family." He brought his sister, Raini Rodriguez, to the stage with him to accept the award. Well known for her work in "Six Feet Under," the talented Justina Machado received the award for Outstanding Performance in a Dramatic Series for her role on CBS’s "Three Rivers." Machado noted the importance of having positive Latina role models on television. Aimee Garcia took home an award for Outstanding Performance in a Dramatic Television Series for her role on NBC’s "Trauma." Garcia was ecstatic to receive the first award of her acting career and thanked the network for giving her the opportunity to be on "Trauma." Aimee acknowledged the importance of television’s portrayal of American Latinos, as she observed that more people watch television than read books or travel. Oscar Nuñez received the award Outstanding Performance in a Comedy Television Series for his performance as ‘Oscar Martinez,’ the frustrated accountant on NBC’s hilarious hit series, "The Office." He thanked NHMC for ensuring that Latinos are being included in television roles, especially in roles that challenge stereotypes. Please visit our website for photographs of the awardees at https://nhmc.org/impactawards.

Washington, D.C. Update

On March 16th the FCC delivered its National Broadband Plan to Congress, and we at NHMC are in the process of reviewing the 376 page document and examining how its recommendations could impact the Latino community and other communities of color. Many FCC proceedings in the coming months will stem around execution of this plan, and NHMC will be chiming in to ensure that Latinos and other communities of color are included in efforts to make Internet access faster and more affordable so that everyone can use this increasingly essential tool.NHMC would like to thank the FCC for its vision and hard work on the Plan, and especially FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, for her steadfast leadership in ensuring that low income communities and communities of color enjoy equal access to the Internet. NHMC’s number one priority continues to be our fight against the harmful effects of hate speech in media. Last week, NHMC President and CEO Alex Nogales, joined NHMC Policy Counsel, Jessica Gonzalez, in Washington, D.C. to further educate public officials about the harmful effects of hate speech in media; NHMC will formally express its concerns on May 7^th by filing public comments in the FCC’s "Future of Media" proceeding. For more information about how you can get involved, please go towww.nhmc.org/calltoaction and click on "Call to Action." In other news, last week a large contingent of public interest advocates called on the FCC to prioritize diversity in its policymaking efforts. An article on the letter is available athttp://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=1726437. Among other things, the advocates urged the FCC to act on NHMC’s Petition for Inquiry on Hate Speech in Media. The letter reads,"[h]istorically marginalized communities still face countless barriers to their own members’ provision and ownership of communications services. The Communications Act instructs the Commission to examine these barriers and take steps to eliminate them. This Commission has taken strides in this area, yet much work remains to be done to address persistent and growing digital divides." NHMC salutes these groups for their partnership and dedication to diversity. Click here to read our Media Policy Watch Update.

Hate Speech Update

End Hate and Misinformation in Media!

For years certain groups have been dehumanized and misrepresented on mainstream media. Now YOU can do something about it! In January of 2009, the National Hispanic Media Coalition filed a petition for inquiry at the Federal Communications Commission, asking the agency to examine the link between hate speech and hate crimes, and to allow citizens across the country to voice their concerns. Over the past year the FCC has failed to answer those requests. In the mean time, countless people have been the victims of violent, and sometimes deadly, hate crimes. Hate crimes against the Latino community have risen over 40% in just the past few years. We know that hate speech not only inspires violence, but that it also has a profound effect on the psychological well-being of our children. Here’s what you can do: 1. You can file comments at the FCC, explaining how the media is failing to serve your community. Although the FCC has not addressed NHMC’s petition for inquiry, it recently initiated a proceeding about "The Future of Media and Information Needs of Communities in a Digital Age." This may be our only chance to voice our grievances with the FCC! In this proceeding, the FCC asks some very broad questions about how the media is serving the news and informational needs of our communities. Comments can be short and simple. The FCC MUST hear multiple voices on this issue to stir it out of inaction. Comments can be filed at fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/upload/display. Proceeding number is 1025. Comments are due May 7^th, so please act quickly. 2. You can spread the word to anyone you know who may be interested in getting involved. For more information please go to our web-site at www.nhmc.org and click on "Call to Action.

Be Counted

The census is literally in our hands now as most of us have received the questionnaires in our homes. Ensuring all communities are counted in the 2010 U.S. Census is critical to our nation’s prosperity. For Latinos, an accurate Census count is key to further building our political strength, and ensuring that our communities have the resources they need. The Census Bureau encourages a designated person in the household to complete the census questionnaire and return it by mail on or before April 1, 2010, Census Day. A second mailing will go to households that do not respond to the first questionnaire. Households that still do not respond will be called or visited by a Census worker. For assistance with filling out the form, the Census Bureau and community organizations in your local area will be available to offer assistance. For more information on getting assistance to fill out the form or if you have not received your form, please call 1-877-EL-CENSO (1-877-352-3676). You can also visit www.yaeshora.info

FCC Consumer Broadband Test

The FCC launched a broadband measurement tool as a part of it’s data collection efforts. The purpose of the Consumer Broadband Test (Beta) is to give consumers additional information about the quality of their broadband connections and to create awareness about the importance of broadband quality in accessing content and services over the internet. Additionally, the FCC may use data collected from the Consumer Broadband Test (Beta), along with submitted street addresses, to analyze broadband quality and availability on a geographic basis across the United States. To test your connection quality go to http://www.broadband.gov/qualitytest

FCC Commissioner Michael Copps on USC Study Report

On Thursday March 11, 2010, the USC Annenberg School Norman Lear Center released a report entitled "Local TV News in the Los Angeles Media Market: Are Stations Serving the Public Interest?" The study collected data by monitoring about 1,000 half-hours of local news on eight different stations in the LA media market. The report shows that out of the general half hour of programming, only 15:44 is news, of which only 8:17 is of local interest. It also showed that the average time devoted to LA local government news is only twenty-two seconds. FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps introduced the report and said the study only deepened his concern over the decline of local news on the broadcast airwaves. The study was commissioned by the Civic Alliance of Los Angeles over a concern that citizens were not receiving the information they needed to fulfill their obligation in terms of voting and participating in the public dialogue. "This is not picking on the good folks of L.A.I’ve been in all four corners of the country where this is unfortunately the case.This study should be incorporated into the work being done at the FCC on the Information Needs of Communities in a Digital Era.This is an evidential versus anecdotal perspective of local broadcast news and the results are most troubling.The digital divide continues to separate our lower income, less educated members of society from broadband media, and we simply cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the media that those Americans without broadband are receiving," stated Copps. Commissioner Copps also noted the importance of shortening license renewals to three years instead of eight years. He thanked the Lear Center for giving the FCC the factual information necessary to improve media communication in this country.

NHMC Jobs, Internships, & Programs Online Database

We are excited to announce our database of jobs, internships and programs on our website. NHMC receives numerous employment opportunity postings from different media outlets around the country. Please visit our website at https://www.nhmc.org/joblistings to explore job opportunities.

Hope Latina History Day Conference

NHMC congratulates Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) for their 19th Annual Latina History Day Conference which took place this month at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. The conference highlighted the accomplishments of various Latinas who have marked our history such as Dolores Huerta, Sonia Sotomayor, and Hilda Solis. Amongst the guest speakers were Michele Serros, Jessica Dominguez, Dr. Ana Nogales, and Mandalit Del Barco and others. Mandalit mentioned how only two Latinas are currently on the air at the National Public Radio (NPR).

Musicians and Health Insurance

The Future of Music Coalition (FMC), a non-profit organization dedicated to musician education, research and advocacy, has launched an online survey designed to provide much-needed data on musicians’ access to health insurance. The "Taking the Pulse" survey, which will be open from March 2 through April 1, 2010, assesses the level of health insurance among working musicians, asking key questions about artists’ access to coverage and their understanding of the current health insurance landscape. FMC will engage directly with musicians and reach artists through partnerships with music service organizations to encourage thousands of musicians to take the short survey, which is available here

Hispanic Youth Showcase:

Be sure to tune into NJN Public Television and Radio Hispanic Youth Showcase competition to be held on May 28th at 7pm at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. If you wish to see last year’s competition that aired on television, go to www.njn.net and look for the NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase 2009. This will be 24th anniversary of the highly-acclaimed NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase. This multi-Emmy nominated and longest running Latino youth talent show in the country was created in honor of a nine year old singer, Elvira Ferrer, and also to counter the negative images of Latino youths on the screen with positive talented Latino youths who sing, dance and play instruments. The goal is to give Latino kids personal confidence that leads to leadership as role models for our community and the entertainment industry. Some Showcase winners, as young as five years old, have hosted the television show while gaining experience for their resumes and future careers. For more information please see this flyer.

Activist Corner

Participate in "Ethnic Women’s Attitudes Toward Physical Activity" Survey The changing racial and ethnic makeup of the U.S. will require health professionals to practice cultural competence in areas such as promotion of physical activity, where cultural beliefs may mediate health promotion behaviors. Although the benefits of physical activity are now widely accepted, midlife women, especially ethnic women, have low participation rates in physical activity. Ethnic women also have prevalent rates of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, all of which cause mortality among ethnic women, all of which can be effectively reduced by increasing physical activity. A plausible reason for the low participation rate is that the women’s ethnic-specific attitudes toward physical activity have rarely been incorporated into relevant interventions. The purpose of this study is to explore attitudes of midlife women from four ethnic groups [Hispanic, Non-Hispanic (N-H) White, N-H African Americans, and N-H Asians] toward physical activity while considering the relationships between their attitudes and their actual participation in physical activity within the ethnic-specific contexts of their daily lives. Data will be gathered via Internet survey and ethnic- specific online forums to allow for a national sample. If you want to participate in the study, please. visit eMAPA.com]]>