NAHJ Executive Director Ivan Roman: Feature film mogul.

When you think of a typical executive director of an organization such as NAHJ, a veteran news reporter with superior management skills usually comes to mind. And that’s a perfect way to describe Ivan Roman.

But what many people do not know is that he is also in the process of writing a feature length film. Sort of.

“I haven’t touched it in about 17 years,” said Roman. “But I have it all planned out.”

So what would someone like Roman write a film about?

“It’s a political thriller about a government official’s assassination in Puerto Rico that is covered up by the federal government,” Roman said.

Given this information, how would a film like this make someone feel after watching it? Would it leave you skipping merrily along on your way back home from the theatres? Or would you find yourself leaving the Cineplex soaking wet after bathing in your own tears for an hour and a half?

“I think the ending will leave a lot of people who want a happy ending not too satisfied,’ Roman said. “But that’s just who we are.”

Sounds pretty reasonable to me. In fact, it seems like only a matter of time before the Academy considers nominating Roman for Best Picture.

“Who knows? You might see me in a movie script directing something,” Roman said laughing. “Or actually letting someone else direct it. I mean, all I did was write the thing.”

Only at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists convention will you find more people with the last names of Garcia, Hernandez and Martinez than you ever anticipated.

But the real question is this: What is the most popular last name at the NAHJ convention?

“Definitely Garcia,” said Amanda Portillo, a student from the University of Arizona working on the NAHJ student projects. “Actually, wait. I change my mind. Definitely, Gonzalez.”

“I’d say Gonzales,” said Doug Mitchell, project manager of the NAHJ student projects. “Gonzales with an ‘s’.”

Strike 1.

“I’ve seen a lot of Sanchez’s at the convention,” said Josh Sanchez, a journalist attending the convention from Florida. “Just going by the names in the program, Sanchez seems pretty popular here”

Strike 2.

It’s got to be Garcia,” said Diego Arias, a journalist from Florida. “Yeah, I’m going with Garcia.”

“Probably Garcia or Gomez,” said Carlos Gonzalez, a mentor for the student projects. “You know, any of the typical ‘Johnson’ versions of Hispanic names.”
Strike 3.

You’re out. Thanks for playing. We’ll see you again next year in Las Vegas.

Oh, how rude of me. I apologize. I forgot to give you the correct answer. Alright, I’ll give you one more chance to redeem yourself….

“There’s Diaz. I’ve also seen Ortiz a lot,” said Tom Krymkowski, a student project mentor. “But if I had to bet on it, I’d say Rodriguez.”

“Rodriguez, because that’s the highest ranked Hispanic name,” said Adam Perez, a student from the University of Southern California.

“Rodriguez seems very popular,” said Frida Villalobos, a student project mentor.

Seems like you’re pretty confident with Rodriguez. Let’s check in with our judge, NAHJ membership coordinator Paulo Luizaga.

According to Luizaga, Garcia came in second place with 23 members out of nearly 900 registered, followed by Hernandez and Martinez with about 20 each.

And the winner is…

“Rodriguez! Yes, Rodriguez is the most popular name here,” said Luizaga.

Rodriguez took the crown with 29 members at the convention.
.
And to all the Rodriguez’s out there, I commend you for producing such an impressive turnout at the convention.

Let’s hear it for one of our own!

Daniel Belis, a student from Pasadena City College and a staff photographer for Latino Reporter, won first place in the Photo/Multimedia Shootout: “The Essence of Sanjuaneros.”

The goal: capture the spirit and the joy of being Puerto Rican.

“It is nice, at the beginning it was hard because I used a camera that I never used before, but then I could manage it. My mentor, Carlos González, took me through Old San Juan so I could take those pictures,” Belis said.

He photographed people on the street enjoying the city.

Cecilia Garza won second place for her picture of two girls on the beach.

Arelis Hernández won the third place for a portrait, and Adrian García received an honorable mention for his picture of a man reading a diary in a square at night.

Twelve photojournalists participated in the contest. The winners received photography equipment and multimedia tools.

Algunos participantes de la convención de la NAHJ ayer y hoy dijeron presente a las 7:00 a.m. en el área de las hamacas del Caribe Hilton. Lucían conjuntos deportivos, pues fueron convocados a una sesión de aeróbicos para renovar energías antes de asistir a las actividades del día en el Centro de Convenciones de Puerto Rico.

Mueve tu Body: Workout to a Latin Beat (en itálicas) fue el nombre del evento auspiciado por The Coca-Cola Company (en itálicas). Pero de acuerdo a Marcela Toledo, periodista independiente que fue a mover su cuerpo, algunos se estaban quejando porque no había música. “Pusieron un audio de un grupo español que casi te quedabas dormido”, aseguró Marcela. Y no es para menos, pues la palabra latino (en itálicas) sugiere un ritmo contagioso y mucho sabor. “La instructora era simpática, pero le hacía falta más”, comentó.

“Después de tanto prometer, de tanta publicidad y de que iba a haber premios, nos quedamos esperando”, lamentó al relatar que el tan esperado premio fue un pedómetro o podómetro (instrumento para medir el número de pasos de una persona). De todos modos, Marcela resaltó el aspecto positivo de esta experiencia. “La mejor recompensa es tu cuerpo, la energía que te da el ejercicio. Me hizo sentir mejor de la culpa que traía de la noche anterior, por la cena y las cervezas”, confesó entre risas.

The rumors are true.

National Association of Hispanic Journalists member Jose Luis Benavides of Southern California will be named the next chair of the Journalism Department at California State University, Northridge.

That will make him one of the few Latino chairs of a journalism department in the country.

CSUN students and alumni have been buzzing about his impending transition all week around the San Juan Convention Center. Benavides confirmed the rumors.

“I start transitioning in July,” Benavides said in an email. “And I’ll become the chair of the department starting in the fall semester.”
In his time at CSUN’s journalism program, Benavides implemented the only Spanish-language journalism program offered at a four-year institution on the West Coast and has overseen its establishment through a website: elnuevosol.net.

“I’m so excited,” said Vanessa Abner, an NAHJ student project member and CSUN student. “He’s an amazing advisor, professor and mentor. He’ll be perfect for the school.”

Two members of NAHJ are listed among UWire’s 2009 Top 100 Student Journalists.

Arelis Hernandez is a 2009 graduate of the University of Maryland. She has worked at a number of publications, including the Baltimore Sun as a multimedia intern, the New York Times Student Journalism Institute and washingtonpost.com.

America Arias is a 2009 graduate of California State University, Fullerton. Arias recently completed her term as the student representative for NAHJ’s Board of Directors. In addition, she has worked as a reporter and producer at Titan Communications, as well as at CNN’s Los Angeles bureau and KCET, a PBS affiliate in Orange County.

“I was really surprised I got it,” Arias said. “I saw the list last year, and I really looked up to the people who got it. This year was really hard, and it was rewarding to get on the list.”

“Hottest” lists pop up all the time. Anywhere from etchings in bathroom stalls to TV programs to the cover of People magazine. But how many focus on hot Latino journalists?

Guanabee.com does. The website that boasts of its “Spicy Coverage” is running a “Hottest Latino Journalist” contest where users can vote for their favorite.

Now in its sixth round, users have crowned winners such as Univision’s Jorge Ramos and Maria Santana from Mega TV. Winners of one round go up against those from other rounds in order to determine the ultimate hottie.

Robert Hernandez

“We just want to sharpen his pencils for him,” a blurb on the site gushed about Diaz.

Fernando Diaz

As far as the website’s praises for him go? “I don’t use pencils,” he deadpanned.

Hernandez, just hired as Assistant Professor of Professional Practice at USC-Annenberg, has yet to face his competition, ABC’s Alex Treviño.

“If I’m amongst the hottest, we may need more diversity,” Hernandez said. “I’m honored to be in any sentence with Jorge Ramos. If [he] doesn’t win, I think it’s fixed.”

Although it’s three long years away, whispers about the location of the next UNITY convention have begun to circulate throughout the National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ convention.

The UNITY conference, which is held every four years and brings together NAHJ, the Asian American Journalists Association, the National Association of Black Journalists and the Native American Journalists Association., has been likened to the Olympics of the journalism universe.

Some journalists, who asked not to be identified as gossipers, said there’s a rumor going around that it’s a toss-up between two very hot spots for 2012: Los Angeles or Las Vegas. And they’re right.

“I can confirm that,” said Rafael Olmeda, president of UNITY. “Nothing is definite right now, but it’s between those two places.”
Olmeda, who works for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, said no dates have been set just yet, but it looks like a July convention is in the works.