Unity Names Anna Lopez as new Executive Director

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Hispanic PR Wire) May 9, 2004 - UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc. today announced that Anna Lopez has been appointed UNITY's executive director. Lopez, who is currently executive director of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, assumes the position on July 1.

Lopez was named the executive director by UNITY's board of directors May 3, in Washington, D.C.

"Having Anna as executive director provides UNITY and its four alliance partners the strongest management at a time we are accelerating preparations for our national convention in 2004," said UNITY president Ernest R. Sotomayor. "Anna is well-respected throughout the industry for her ability to organize and stage great annual conventions, but more than that, she will provide the proven leadership we seek in moving UNITY forward beyond next year."

Lopez, a native of Washington, D.C., graduated from Mount Vernon College in the district in 1992 with a BA in Business Administration. Before joining NAHJ, Lopez worked as a national news aide at The Washington Post.

In 1995, Lopez joined the staff of NAHJ as its special projects manager. She then became director of education and professional development in 1997 and was promoted to executive director in 1998.

During her tenure, NAHJ has grown from a yearly budget of $1 million to $1.7 million and the membership has grown to its current high of 1,800. The association has also experienced record attendance at its annual convention.

"I am looking forward to working at one of the most important journalism organizations in the country," said Lopez. "As we approach our 2004 convention, the importance of newsroom diversity and in improving the overall quality in journalism is more crucial than ever."

UNITY is made up of the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the Asian American Journalists Association and the Native American Journalists Association. Its mission is to improve coverage of people of color by dispelling stereotypes and myths and to educate mainstream media on the value and importance of diversity.

UNITY will hold its third convention from August 4-8, 2004 at the Washington Convention Center, and again expects it will be the largest journalism convention ever, as were UNITY's first two gatherings in 1994 and 1999. UNITY '94 in Atlanta drew more than 6,000 participants, and UNITY '99 in Seattle drew more than 6,700 attendees.

Already, UNITY has arranged for a half-dozen major universities, national training institutions, many other national journalism associations and high-profile speakers to be part of next year's convention.

More information on the UNITY 2004 convention can be found at http://www.unityjournalists.org register to be apart of our mailing lists for up-to-date information as it develops!