SJMC lecture series discussion to examine influence of Hispanic media

Monica Lozano, the CEO of impreMedia and publisher of the highly respected Spanish-language La Opinion and El Diario La Prensa newspapers, will speak during the opening lecture for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s  2011-’12 Hearst Distinguished Lecture Series at Biscayne Bay Campus on Wednesday, Sept. 14.

Lozano’s lecture, titled “Leading Transformation in the Hispanic Media Landscape,” will address key issues surrounding the Hispanic population and the influence of Hispanic media in the 21st century. The event is set for 3 p.m. in the Wolfe University Center Ballroom and is free to the FIU community.

“Ms. Lozano has had a long-standing commitment to education and throughout her career she has remained a champion for Hispanic rights and issues. Her ability to speak about changes in the media landscape and the role Hispanics play in the media and social and political process will be invaluable lessons for our students,” said Kate MacMillin, assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) and chair of the Hearst Lecture committee. “It is a great privilege to welcome her to campus.”

Following the lecture, Lozano will join an exclusive roster of panelists that features such prominent communication and academic figures as Alex Stepick, Ph.D., Director, Research Institute on Social and Economic Policy, FIU; Ramon Escobar, executive vice president, Telemundo Communications Group; Raul Cisneros, chief of digital media, U.S. Census Bureau; and Rosanna Fiske, APR, associate professor, SJMC and CEO/chair, Public Relations Society of America. Moses Shumow, Ph.D., assistant professor in the SJMC Department of Journalism and Broadcasting, will moderate the panel discussion and post-lecture Q&A.

“Given that the SJMC student body is 69 percent Hispanic and is consistently ranked in the top three nationally for awarding undergraduate degrees to Hispanics makes Monica Lozano a perfect fit for our school,” said associate professor Allan Richards, the school’s associate dean. “We are training the future leaders in Hispanic communications and who better to address them during this pivotal time in our cultural and political landscape than the leader in Hispanic communications herself.”

Lozano is one of the most influential Latinas in the United States. This year, she was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.

With Lozano at the helm, impreMedia has been involved in important public information campaigns designed to empower the Latino community in the areas of health, economic advancement, immigration and education, including the Ya es hora campaign targeting Latino civic participation in the presidential elections, as well as the 2010 Census.