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The
2000 U.S. Census shows that Latino populations are rising
throughout the USA. Joe
Grimm, recruiting and development editor at the Detroit
Free Press and creator
of the JobsPage,
presented some advice on recruiting Latino journalists and
interns. These are his points.
Questions? Contact Joe at 313-222-6490.
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Advice on recruiting
Latino journalists
and interns
The 2000 U.S. Census
shows that Latino populations are rising throughout the USA.
In an innovative workshop aimed at improving coverage of Latinos in the
Heartland, the American Society of Newspaper Editors presented a workshop,
"The Old Neighborhood is Changing: Covering the New Latino Community",
Feb. 2-4, 2001 in Nashville, Tenn.
Joe Grimm, recruiting
and development editor at the Detroit Free Press, suggests the following
when recruiting Latino journalists and interns:
Do:
- begin doing journalism
for Latino readers now. Do not put it off.
- join the National
Association of Hispanic Journalists ( www.nahj.org) and recruit
at its convention (June 20-23, 2001, in Phoenix).
Also
- recruit at job
fairs sponsored by the American
Society of Newspaper Editors
(www.asne.org).
- grow local talent
by investing your time, talent and some of the paper's money
with high school journalists.
- track students
and encourage them through their college years. Invite them
to help out during vacations, for elections, as campus stringers. Recruit
at community colleges.
- advertise for positions
in the local Spanish-language press.
- work to truly understand
people as Latinos or as Cuban Americans or Mexican
Americans, but especially as unique individuals. Ask and listen. Read.
One good new book is Juan Gonzalez' "Harvest of Empire."
- provide the opportunity
that others won't.
- raise your standards
by seeking language skills, perspectives and experiences
that improve content.
Do not
- have an inferiority
complex about your region or your newspaper. Sell what
you have and make it better, but do not waste time on apologies.
- assume that Latinos
do or should speak Spanish, that their parents are laborers,
that they are rich, poor, Catholic, immigrants, hate snow, like spicy
foods or anything about them. You couldn't possibly know. Instead, get
to know each
person individually.
- try to mold anyone
into the form best for your newsroom. Let each person change
the newsroom.
- claim "diversity
fatigue". The world will not slow down because you need a
rest.
- think you are
doing anyone a favor by hiring someone who does not meet standards.
(Are your standards up to date?)
- leave their professional
development to chance.
- tune them out
if they bring up "Hispanic issues." Those are news stories.
- pigeon-hole people
into "diversity" positions or programs.
- forget about people
after you get them in the door.
- ever stop.
Resources on the
Web:
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