Elena Cabral

I had the honor of being part of the inaugural cohort of the NAHJ (National Association of Hispanic Journalists) Adelante Leadership Academy in 2024. This came during a time of transition and led to tremendous opportunity, growth and lifelong friendships. Join Ana María Carrano, Georgiana González, Lorena Flores and I as we talk with Program Director 👨🏽‍🏫 Robert Hernandez about some of the leadership lessons we took away from this experience. See you in New Orleans!

I joined NAHJ (National Association of Hispanic Journalists) shortly after arriving in the United States in 1998 for graduate school in journalism at Boston University. I didn’t know anyone in the business; NAHJ gave me a network, friends and a home. In an industry that still struggles to welcome immigrants and Latinos in top leadership positions, NAHJ also gave me the confidence to keep charging ahead exactly as who I am and pave my own way. I’m excited to travel to New Orleans July 21-24 for NAHJ’s 2026 conference and to moderate an important conversation featuring an all-star panel of Latina leaders: Jamie Stockwell, Charo Henríquez, Marilu Galvez, MBA and Raquel Amparo. If you’re at the conference, join us for “Latinas Leading Under Pressure” on July 22 at 11 a.m. CT. #morelatinosinnews #nahj2026

I am headed to the NAHJ conference next week in New Orleans. Will you be there? If you want to chat with me about your career, resume, reel, changing jobs, management, agents, asking for a raise or anything else. You know I keep it real. DM me. I’m on a panel “Life of an independent journalist.” Come listen in. The photo is last year’s conference when I met with a group of students. NAHJ (National Association of Hispanic Journalists)

We are pleased to welcome our newest board member, John Haskins! Alongside the rest of our Board of Directors, John's decades of experience in journalism, media leadership, and higher education will help The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Community Center strengthen its voice, elevate its public profile, and share the stories that inspire connection, understanding, and action in support of LGBTQ+ communities. John is a news media professional with experience in multiple newsrooms and academia. Most recently, he was the Dean of Student Affairs, Prizes and Professional Programs at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. In his 30 years at The New York Times, his roles included chief administrative editor overseeing operations for Times newsrooms in London, Paris, and Hong Kong. He was also the managing editor of the Sunday Magazine and T Magazine. A native of Des Moines, Iowa, and a graduate of the University of Missouri, John began his editing career at The Minneapolis Star Tribune and moved on to Newsday before joining The Times.  We are grateful for John's commitment to The Center and look forward to the perspective, leadership, and communications expertise he will bring to our Board. Check out our website to learn more about our Board of Directors: gaycenter.org/about/staff/

I'm delighted to be participating in two important upcoming conferences in New Orleans, where I'll join colleagues in conversations about journalism education, Spanish-language media, diversity, and professional responsibility. At the NAHJ 2026 Conference, I'll be participating in two outstanding panels: In the first, “Creating a Bilingual Program at Your J-School”, I'll join Claudia Cruz, Carmen Graciela Díaz, and Teresa Puente. Together, we'll discuss how journalism schools can build bilingual programs, prepare culturally competent journalists, and strengthen pathways for Spanish-language journalism education. In the second panel, “El Futuro del Periodismo en Español y Cómo Las Escuelas de Periodismo Pueden Alentarlo”, I'll be joined by Lorena Flores, Elda Cantú, and Peniley Ramírez. Together, we'll explore the future of Spanish-language journalism in the United States, the leadership skills news organizations need today, and how journalism schools can better prepare the next generation of editors, managers, and media entrepreneurs. At the 2026 AEJMC Annual Conference, I'll also be participating in two important sessions. As a member of AEJMC's Professional Freedom and Responsibility Committee, I'll join our annual business meeting to continue advancing conversations on ethics, academic freedom, and the responsibilities of journalism educators. I'm also honored to participate in the panel “Dr. Lionel C. Barrow Jr.'s Legacy Lives on through the Research, Teaching, and Service of 50 Barrow Doctoral Minority Student Scholarship Recipients”, alongside Paula M. Poindexter (UT Austin), Federico Subervi (U. Wisconsin–Madison), Dorothy Bland and Taylor Maze (North Texas), and Nabila Mushtarin (Louisiana State). Receiving the 2025 AEJMC Lionel C. Barrow Jr. Award for Distinguished Achievement in Diversity Research and Education was a deeply meaningful recognition. I'm grateful for the opportunity to reflect on Dr. Barrow's enduring legacy while discussing the future of diversity research, teaching, mentorship, and leadership in journalism and mass communication. These conversations reflect many of the issues that continue to inspire my work: bilingual journalism education, Spanish-language media, equity and representation, and the preparation of future generations of journalists and scholars. #NAHJ #AEJMC #JournalismEducation #MediaResearch #BilingualJournalism #NAHJ26 #AEJMC26 NAHJ (National Association of Hispanic Journalists) Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) If you'll be attending either conference, I'd love to connect. I look forward to seeing colleagues, students, researchers, journalists, and friends in New Orleans!