By Marissa Parra
Philip Merrill College of Journalism, UM SPJ Chapter
This year’s Excellence in Journalism Conference in Anaheim nearly doubled its numbers from previous years, thanks to the inclusion of the Natio
nal Association of Hispanic Journalists.
The final attendance was 1,611, of which 30 percent were from NAHJ and 28 percent were from the Society of Professional Journalists. Another 9 percent were members of the Radio Television Digital News Association. The remaining 30 percent were nonmembers, mostly speakers and exhibitors).
After two successful years of EIJ conferences between SPJ and RTDNA, the merger with NAHJ created what SPJ President David Cuillier called “the most exciting and largest EIJ conference yet.”
SPJ and NAHJ board member Rebecca Aguilar had been pushing for the inclusion of NAHJ since last year and said it was a win-win for everyone. “These news organizations want diversity, specially more Latino employees, so this was a perfect marriage for all of us," she said. "It’s a hit all the way.”
The inclusion of NAHJ also brought diversity to the EIJ sessions. Many of the panels included discussions that focused on Latino issues. Some of the sessions were conducted exclusively in Spanish.
A few Latino American celebrities came to the conference on behalf of NAHJ, including actress Eva Longoria, who was a panelist in a Latino vote session. Actor Benjamin Bratt and PBS NewsHour senior correspondent Ray Suarez were also at EIJ as panelists for a special screening of “Latino Americans.”
NAHJ will not be at the EIJ 2014 conference, and will instead host a standalone convention in San Antonio in honor of the organization’s 30th anniversary.
Cuillier insists this isn’t the end of NAHJ’s involvement with EIJ. “Of course a lot of people will be disappointed that NAHJ won’t be there next year, but this isn’t the end," he said. "This is just the beginning.”
This year’s conference may have been the start of more than just diversifying EIJ. RTDNA Executive Director Mike Cavender sees this as the beginning of a future with not only NAHJ, but other groups, as well.
“The inclusion of a third journalism organization brought over 1,600 (people) and created such a remarkably vibrant atmosphere,” said Cavender. “Imagine if we had enough organizations to have a conference of over 10,000 journalists!”
More attendees at a conference mean less redundant costs. Future joint conventions would result in larger conventions and larger facilities, and subsequently even more opportunity.
“I see a future where we have ALL the journalism organizations at one conference. Just picture the kinds of speakers we could get to talk to us and all of the different sessions we could choose from,” said Cuillier. “We as journalists need to band together because we are stronger in numbers.”