JESSICA MARIE GUTIERREZ – THE HISPANIC BLOG

WHICH PR NEWSWIRE SERVICE DO HISPANICS TURN TO?

February 29, 2012 by Jessica Marie Gutierrez Leave a Comment

THE HISPANIC BLOG BY JESSICA MARIE GUTIERREZ

With new leadership comes new energy and ambition, making this a year for continued growth for the Hispanic Public Relations Association, Los Angeles chapter (HPRA-LA) as it announces the new incoming board and welcomes new members. With the new board, HPRA-LA will build upon strategic partnerships and strengthen its commitment to provide PR professionals and students the resources to thrive in this evolving Hispanic public relations industry.

“Our commitment to fostering key strategic partnerships and increasing our membership continue to be significant goals for the organization in 2012,” said Delia L. Lopez, HPRA-LA president. “Building on our history and on our principle of serving as a resource to PR professionals, HPRA-LA will continue to be a platform for advancement and enrichment for those in Hispanic PR and those seeking expertise in the Hispanic market.”

HPRA-LA executive board members include:

Delia L. Lopez (President): bilingual Communications Consultant with more than 12 years of experience in the field of strategic public relations, having worked with large national and regional brands, and specializing in the Hispanic market.

Jacqueline Quintanilla Aker (Vice President): senior vice president, Health & Multicultural Marketing at Edelman, has more than 12 years of experience leading award-winning campaigns for LIVESTRONG®, the California Department of Alcohol & Drug Programs and Nestle®.

Leslie Smith (Secretary): senior vice president of Business Development and Marketing, Leslie is responsible for all new business opportunities at New American Dimensions, a Los Angeles based Marketing Research and Consulting Firm that focuses on multicultural research.

Hilda Delgado (Treasurer): Western Region communications director for Coca-Cola Refreshments where she oversees and implements internal and external communications and public affairs campaigns for California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Hawai’i.

HPRA-LA also welcomes the following board committee chairs:

Programs – Chalena Cadenas, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences

Marketing – Mariluz Gonzalez, Vesper Public Relations

Social Media Integration – Jose Xicohtencatl, Edelman

Membership – Chuck Sifuentes, PR Consultant

National Chapters – Stephen Chavez, Chavez Marketing & Communications

Scholarship/College Outreach – Denisse Montalvan, Ketchum

In addition, HPRA-LA is strengthening its leadership with the addition of Oralia Michel, President of OMAGEN Marketing & PR, as senior advisor. Michel’s 30-year career in Hispanic marketing will provide expertise and thought leadership to expand programs and resources to Hispanic PR professionals. Michel, a seasoned PR practitioner and former journalist, believes the tenets of journalism are core skills that all communicators would be well served to embrace and practice, while keeping a pulse on the ever changing technology that makes marketing communications an exciting and always evolving profession.

“Public relations and marketing communications continue to evolve making our industry ever energizing,” says Michel. “Augmenting and forging new partnerships will enable HPRA to provide our members with the best learning from the best minds. Our members’ insights are also highly valuable and we will drive thought leadership that better serves the Hispanic market. In this era of integration, strategic messaging capabilities will continue to be king and we must be the leaders in delivering the right messages via the best channels.”

A large initiative this year for the board is the Association’s partnership with Hispanicize. Now in its third year, Hispanicize will be held in Miami on April 10-13, 2012. PR-focused sessions at the conference will spotlight HPRA 2011 PRemio award-winning programs/case studies from some of the nation’s most renowned multicultural PR professionals. The annual event focuses on Latino trends and brings trendsetters together in PR, social media, entertainment, marketing and media. More details and information about Hispanicize is available on the HPRA website.

For more information on HPRA-LA, Hispanicize and to become a member, visit our website at http://www.hpra-usa.org and like us on Facebook/HPRA USA.

About Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA):

Founded in 1984, the Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA) is the foremost organization of Hispanic public relations practitioners in the U.S. HPRA is a resource for communications professionals and for those seeking Hispanic market expertise. It is dedicated to the recognition and advancement of Hispanics in public relations through year-round programs and hosts one of the industry’s most anticipated events: the PRemio Campaign of the Year Awards and Scholarship Gala in the fall. To date, HPRA has awarded a quarter million dollars to college and university students of Latino descent pursuing careers in communications. With a solid record of achievement and a committed membership, HPRA continually strives to increase the value of public relations as the industry increasingly gains clout and expands. For more information please visit www.hpra-usa.org.

IS ALABAMA “LIGHTENING UP” ON HISPANICS?

February 28, 2012 by Jessica Marie Gutierrez 2 Comments

THE HISPANIC BLOG BY JESSICA MARIE GUTIERREZ

On March 1, the ACLU will be in court challenging the constitutionality of both Alabama and Georgia’s discriminatory anti-immigrant laws. Of the five Arizona-inspired laws to pass, only Alabama’s has had significant provisions go into effect. The result: divided communities and devastation to the State’s economy and reputation.

Five months have now passed since those parts of Alabama’s law, H.B. 56, went into effect, and Alabama’s immigrant and Latino communities remain in a state of terror. Although tens of thousands fled Alabama in those first few days and weeks, others have committed to staying in their communities, hoping the legal challenges and basic human decency would prevail. People have held out hoping they would not have to uproot their families and leave their homes, notwithstanding the clear message that they were no longer welcome, at least by those in charge of the State government.Creator of The Hispanic Blog

Several realities are missed or ignored by those in favor of coercive policies like H.B. 56, that are meant to force immigrants to “self-deport.” One is the incredible resourcefulness of the community they have targeted. People don’t leave their home countries and travel thousands of miles to escape violence, repression, and grinding poverty without a willingness to endure hardship and to overcome obstacles that would persuade those of less resolute spirit to turn back. Having put down roots in Alabama and made contributions to their local communities, many immigrants are therefore willing to take a wait-and-see approach, and tolerate — at least for a while — outrages that are far out of place in 21st-century America.

Alabama is fertile ground for outrage for anyone with a conscience. Although arrests and detentions of foreign auto executives make headlines, the everyday lived experience of H.B. 56 involves far more commonplace affronts to human dignity. Indignities like being denied water service for six weeks, even while your 9-year-old U.S.-citizen child falls ill for lack of running water in the home; or being told that without a valid Social Security number, you can’t have electricity at your home, receive emergency dental care, take classes at the local community college, or renew your lease — even though you are willing and able to pay just like the next person. Other frequent affronts to human dignity include being told that even though your family qualifies for federal food stamps or emergency medical care, you can’t have those services because the state has decided otherwise; or being warned that if you offer a neighbor a hand by providing a meal or a ride, you could be prosecuted for the new state crime of harboring; or being arrested by local police, not for any crime, but because the officer wants to check your immigration status — and besides, you were standing on the sidewalk for too long anyway.

Not all of these consequences are actually mandated by H.B. 56, but such things happen when you enact a broadly worded law that, in the words of Rep. Micky Hammon, one of its sponsors, “attacks every aspect” of the lives of an entire community, in the hopes that “they will deport themselves.” It signals and gives license to those who think they either can or are now required to discriminate (and it doesn’t help when Rep. Hammon openly uses “Hispanic” and “illegal immigrant” interchangeably).
And so those who look or sound “foreign,” even though they are U.S. citizens, are collateral casualties, looked upon with suspicion and harassed — asked if they have “papers” — when they buy groceries, go to school or a restaurant, or attempt to return a blouse to the local department store.br />
photo of beyond anti-immigrant Gov Brewer of AZ & Gov Bentley of AL

Some recent reports have noted that amongst the thousands who fled Alabama last fall, some have returned. And it’s true: there has been a slight rebound in some places. Some have decided that even though life is far more difficult in Alabama than other places, it’s still their home. And so they will have faith that the State will come to its collective senses and remedy what has become a colossal self-inflicted injury; we’ve seen some state lawmakers calling for repeal, while others are considering measures that would try and mitigate the law’s widespread harms. Many families are counting on the courts and the compassion of their neighbors (immigrant, Latino, or otherwise) so that they can carry on with the lives they have built in Alabama. In short, despite all evidence to the contrary, some immigrants in Alabama continue to have faith in the American values they have come to respect and love as their own. I just hope their faith is not misplaced.

CAN HISPANICS MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?

February 27, 2012 by Jessica Marie Gutierrez 1 Comment

THE HISPANIC BLOG BY JESSICA MARIE GUTIERREZ

Hispanics are comprised of 16 percent of the U.S. population, just 43 percent of Hispanics are eligible to vote. According to the Pew Demographics report, Latinos have a higher proportion of non-citizens and those under 18-years-of-age. This is spread among many states and diminishes the impact on elections and the Electoral College. In some states, Latinos only comprise of as little as one or two percent of the electorate.

However, in states such as California and Nevada, the demographic effects of the Hispanic and Latino vote can impact the results dramatically. In these states, both political parties will be competing for their votes using the issues that are important to these voters.

The Hispanic population in Florida is the third-largest in the nation with Latinos representing 13.1% of all votes for the state. Candidates will be paying the closest attention to the state of New Mexico that accounts for the largest percentage of Hispanic voters at 39%.

The demographic reality may affect the way both political parties discuss and handle policies that alienate Latinos. However, unless there is a higher proportion of Latinos voting in 2012 could determine which party controls the presidency and both houses of Congress for the next four years.

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powered by Influential Access – “Transforming the Ordinary to EXTRAordinary!” – CEO – Jessica Marie Gutierrez – Creator of The Hispanic Blog #thehispanicblog

Filed Under: LATINO POLITICS Tagged With: Electoral College, Florida, Hispanic and Latino Americans, JESSICA MARIE GUTIERREZ, New Mexico, public relations, Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, Voto Latino

DOES UNIVISION HAVE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF VIEWERS: CEO RANDY FALCO PUTS IN HIS TWO CENTS

February 24, 2012 by Jessica Marie Gutierrez Leave a Comment

THE HISPANIC BLOG BY JESSICA MARIE GUTIERREZ

Spanish-language media giant Univision Communications on Friday reported improved fourth-quarter financials and vowed that it will continue to grow despite increased competition.

The privately-held company, led by CEO Randy Falco and chairman Haim Saban, posted a loss of $355.9 million, compared with a loss of $631.9 million in the year-ago period, which had been dragged down by $452 million in losses and charges related to a legal settlement with Mexican broadcaster, content supplier and investor Grupo Televisa. Restructuring, severance and related charges rose to $9.3 million in the latest period from $4.9 million in the year-ago period. The company also cited an impairment loss of $12.5 million, compared to $8.6 million in the year-ago period.

Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization, a measure of profitability that focuses more on operations, increased 6.3 percent to $275.7 million. Revenue in the latest quarter rose 6.9 percent to $616.7 million. The company recorded revenue gains in its television and radio business, but not its interactive unit.

“The release of the 2010 U.S. Census results made 2011 a landmark year for Univision and the entire Hispanic media industry,” said Falco. “The Census results showed that our core audience, which is already one in six Americans, is expected to grow to one in three Americans in 40 years.”

To take advantage of the upside opportunity, “Univision is laying the groundwork for growth, investing in new networks and expanding our digital distribution capabilities to deliver the full value of our exclusive programming partnership with Televisa,” he added. “These efforts are enhancing Univision’s audience engagement, as demonstrated by strong ratings and persistent live viewership – Univision finished the fourth quarter with the highest percentage of live viewers in primetime compared to the major broadcast networks.”

On a conference call, Univision executives explained the significance of having the highest concentration of live viewers in the key 18-49 demo in primetime. Of Univision’s audience in that demo, 94 percent watch live, compared with 79 percent at NBC, 76 percent at ABC and 75 percent at CBS and Fox, the company said.

Spanish-language media has been in transition as the latest Census has cast a spotlight on the sector, and other media and entertainment companies are eyeing opportunities to take advantage, Falco told analysts. “Now, every media executive wakes up thinking of two great growth opportunities – Hispanic and digital media,” he said.

However, Univision has an advantage as it has focused on this space for more than half a century, “and we are far and away the best at it,” Falco said. “We have built up a rare trust and loyalty with our audience.”

But the company won’t rest on its laurels, he emphasized, saying “it pays to be ahead of the curve.” Importantly, Falco said that “we also have the relevant content U.S. Hispanics crave,” calling Univision’s exclusive access to Televisa content “a huge competitive advantage.”

Asked about rep0rts that Univision has discussed an English-language joint venture with ABC News, executives declined to comment on Friday.

Management touted the outlook for the political advertising season though, saying Univision is spending millions to launch its political sales force.

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powered by Influential Access – “Transforming the Ordinary to EXTRAordinary!” – CEO – Jessica Marie Gutierrez – Creator of The Hispanic Blog #thehispanicblog

Filed Under: LATINO MARKETING Tagged With: English-Language, Haim Saban, Hispanic and Latino Americans, hispanic blog, influential, Influential Access, Jess Marie, JESSICA MARIE GUTIERREZ, Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, Randy Falco, Spanish language, Televisa, transforming ordinary, Univision

WHAT IS PRESIDENT OBAMA DOING TO FIX THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM?

February 24, 2012 by Jessica Marie Gutierrez 2 Comments

THE HISPANIC BLOG

FROM THE WHITE HOUSE

“We are the first nation to be founded for the sake of an idea—the idea that each of us deserves the chance to shape our own destiny. That’s why centuries of pioneers and immigrants have risked everything to come here…The future is ours to win. But to get there, we cannot stand still.”

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND HOST A ROUNDTABLE.

President Obama is calling for a national conversation on immigration reform that builds a bipartisan consensus to fix our broken immigration system so it works for America’s 21st century economy and security needs, but he can’t do it alone. That is why we are asking you and other Americans, including business leaders, faith leaders, law enforcement leaders and all Americans that understand that we cannot continue to live with the broken system the way it is – to continue the conversation in your community by hosting a roundtable.

Step 1:
Download the toolkit. Click on link below.

Step 2:
Tell us about your event using the form to the right.

Step 3:
Tell us how your event went and submit the completed toolkit on the follow up form.

http://m.whitehouse.gov/issues/immigration/roundtables

President Obama recognizes that our current immigration system is broken and he is deeply committed to building a new 21st century immigration system that meets our nation’s important economic and security needs. In his State of the Union Address, the President laid out his vision for winning the future. To secure prosperity for all Americans, we must out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world, and fixing our immigration system plays an important part in that plan. As we work to rebuild our economy, our ability to thrive depends, in part on restoring responsibility and accountability to the immigration system.

President’s Vision for Reform
The President plans to create a 21st century immigration system by:

-Continuing to fulfill the federal government’s responsibility to securing our borders;

-Demanding accountability for businesses that break the law by undermining American workers and exploiting undocumented workers;

-Strengthening our economic competiveness by creating a legal immigration system that reflects our values and diverse needs; and
Requiring responsibility from people who are living in the United States illegally.

-Building on Progress
During the last two years, the Obama Administration has taken important steps to improve our immigration system within the boundaries of existing laws. For example, the Administration has:

—-Dedicated unprecedented resources to secure the border;

—-Made interior and worksite enforcement smarter and more effective; and

—-Worked to improve our legal immigration system.

BLUEPRINT FROM THE WHITE HOUSE

Click to access immigration_blueprint.pdf

ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama, expressing confidence he will win re-election in November, told a Hispanic audience he would use a second term to seek comprehensive immigration reform.

“My presidency is not over,” Obama said in an interview with Univision Radio when asked about his failure so far to push through an immigration bill. “I’ve got another five years coming up. We’re going to get this done.”

Obama is seeking to shore up support among Hispanic voters, whose strong backing helped him win the White House in 2008. But some in the Latino community are disappointed over the lack of progress toward overhauling the immigration system.

Obama – in an interview broadcast the day before his Thursday trip to Florida, an election battleground state with a large Hispanic population – sought to reassure Latinos he was committed to trying to pass broad immigration reform.

He rejected suggestions that he had broken a campaign promise and put the blame on Republicans in Congress who he said were “unwilling to talk at all about any sensible solutions to this issue.”

“So far, we haven’t seen any of the Republican candidates even support immigration reform,” Obama said, taking aim at his potential opponents in the November 6 election.

The White House hopes that hard-line positions taken by Republican presidential contenders on illegal immigration and border control will help Obama with Hispanic voters in vital swing states like Florida, Nevada and Colorado.

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powered by Influential Access – “Transforming the Ordinary to EXTRAordinary!” – CEO – Jessica Marie Gutierrez – Creator of The Hispanic Blog #thehispanicblog

Filed Under: LATINO POLITICS Tagged With: Barack Obama, hispanic, Hispanic and Latino Americans, Immigration reform, influential, Influential Access, Jess Marie, JESSICA MARIE GUTIERREZ, latino, Obama, Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, Republican, Republicans, State of the Union Address, transforming ordinary, United States, Univision Radio

WHICH PR NEWSWIRE SERVICE DO HISPANICS TURN TO?

IS ALABAMA “LIGHTENING UP” ON HISPANICS?

CAN HISPANICS MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?

DOES UNIVISION HAVE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF VIEWERS: CEO RANDY FALCO PUTS IN HIS TWO CENTS

WHAT IS PRESIDENT OBAMA DOING TO FIX THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM?

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WHICH PR NEWSWIRE SERVICE DO HISPANICS TURN TO?

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DOES UNIVISION HAVE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF VIEWERS: CEO RANDY FALCO PUTS IN HIS TWO CENTS

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