SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — New America Media (NAM), the nation’s largest association of ethnic media outlets, has announced the winners of its 2013 NAM Ethnic Media Awards for Southern California, honoring exceptional journalism by members of the ethnic media in the region.
Among the winners were Jesus E. Valenzuela-Félix, Ivan Delgado, and Brenda Rincón of Coachella Unincorporated.
“We are honored to have more than 150 individual entries from across the ethnic media sector in Southern California,” said NAM Awards Chair Odette Keeley. “These media outlets serve Latino, African-American, Jewish, Middle Eastern, Armenian, Native-American, and Asian-American communities including Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, South Asian and Japanese audiences.”
NAM will recognize first place winners in 13 categories including Governance and Electoral Politics, Civil Liberties, International Affairs, Health, Education, Environment, Economy, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports and Community Advocacy.
The Los Angeles Multicultural Leadership Network [LAMLN], with a grant provided by the California Community Foundation, will present six awards recognizing coverage of inter-ethnic relations, and four awards for emerging youth media reporters. Valenzuela-Félix and Delgado will be honored in the Emerging Youth Voices category for their outstanding work for Coachella Unincorporated.
Valenzuela-Felix is being recognized for his column, The Diary of Joaquín Magón; Delgado is being recognized for his video, Celebration and Reflection at Chavez National Monument Dedication.
Rincón, Coachella Unincorporated coordinator and New America Media writer, is being recognized in the Outstanding Reporting on Governance & Coverage of the 2012 Elections category for her story, “Ruiz Riding Latino Vote to Congressional Victory.”
“From Koreatown activists pushing for fairer representation in redistricting, to reports on El Salvador’s new disappeared, to a 10-part Chinese media series on migrant farm workers, to victims of human trafficking within the Filipino community – this is only a sampling of the powerful stories reviewed in the selection process,” said Keeley.
“In a fractured media landscape, it’s more important than ever that we cover each other’s communities, not just our own,” said Sandy Close, NAM’s executive director. “We are honored to have the LAMLN join NAM’s awards this year, to recognize diversity reporting by the ethnic media sector.”
KPCC Radio host Patt Morrison will emcee while Bill Davis, founding president of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR) will be delivering the welcome at the Awards Gala on Thursday, March 7, at 6 p.m. at KPCC’s Crawford Family Forum at SCPR’s Mohn Broadcast Center.
Below is a complete list of the winners for the 2013 NAM Ethnic Media Awards for Southern California:
I. OUTSTANDING REPORTING ON GOVERNANCE & COVERAGE OF THE 2012 ELECTIONS
Winner: Eugene Yi – KoreAm Journal
Winner: Jonah Lowenfeld – The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles
Honorable Mention: Brenda Rincon – Coachella Unincorporated
II. OUTSTANDING REPORTING ON CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES IN ETHNIC COMMUNITIES
A. Print: Winner: Charlene Muhammad – The Final Call
B. Broadcast: Winners: Lourdes S. Tancinco, Esq., Jericho Saria,
Leonardo De Asis, Jr. – “Pusong Pinoy sa Amerika” – GMA Pinoy TV
III. OUTSTANDING REPORTING ON HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE
A. Print: Gloria Angelina Castillo – Eastern Group Publications
Runner-up: Thandisizwe Chimurenga – Los Angeles Sentinel
Honorable Mention: Geoff Chin – America Commercial News
B. Broadcast: Winners: Mai-Phuong Nguyen, Vanessa Hong Van Nguyen,
Thanh-Huong Nguyen – Viet Nam California Radio (VNCR)
IV. OUTSTANDING REPORTING ON EDUCATION
Winner: Charles Ding – Sing Tao Daily
V. OUTSTANDING REPORTING ON INTER-ETHNIC, INTER-RACIAL & INTER-RELIGIOUS
RELATIONS
(Special Selection by the Los Angeles Multicultural Leadership Network [LAMLN])
A. Winner: Yeal Jang – Korea Daily
B. Winner: Eugene Yi – KoreAm Journal
C. Winner: Ky Phong Tran – Nguoi Viet Daily News
D. Winner: Antonio Valverde – KMEX – Univision 34
E. Winner: Jonah Lowenfeld – The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles
F. Winner: Larry Aubry – Los Angeles Sentinel
VI. OUTSTANDING REPORTING ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Winner: Catherine Yang – World Journal, L.A.
VII. OUTSTANDING REPORTING ON CALIFORNIA’S GROWING ECONOMIC DIVIDE
Winner: Araceli Martinez Ortega – La Opinion
VIII. OUTSTANDING REPORTING ON INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Winner: Yurina Melara Valiulis – La Opinion
Runner-up: Jun Wang – China Daily
Honorable Mention: Ragini Tharoor Srinivasan – India Currents
IX. OUTSTANDING REPORTING ON ARTS, CULTURE, FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT
Winner: Y. Peter Kang – KoreAm Journal
Runner-up: Hassina Leelarathna – Civic L.A.
Honorable Mention: Sarita Sarvate – India Currents
X. OUTSTANDING REPORTING ON SPORTS
A. Winner: Ky Phong Tran – Nguoi Viet Daily News
B. Runner-up: Rose Davis – Indian Voices
XI. EMERGING YOUTH VOICES AWARD
(Special Selection by the Los Angeles Multicultural Leadership Network [LAMLN])
A. Winner: Jesus E. Valenzuela Felix – Coachella Unincorporated
B. Winner: Ryan Macasero – The FilAm
C. Winner: Mitzi Ballesteros – Boyle Heights Beat
D. Winner: Ivan Delgado – Coachella Unincorporated
XII. COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AWARD
Alhambra Source
XIII. OUTSTANDING PHOTOJOURNALISM
Winner: Charles Ding – Sing Tao Daily
Runner-up: Jenna Pope – Illume Media
XIV. OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY REPORTING [TELEVISION]
Winner: Jannelle So – “Kababayan LA.” – L.A.18
Runner-up: Joseph Pimentel – “Balitang America” – ABS-CBN International –
The Filipino Channel (Reporter – Asian Journal
SCPR is a member-supported public media network that operates 89.3 KPCC-FM in Los Angeles and Orange County, 89.1 KUOR-FM in the Inland Empire and 90.3 KVLA in the Coachella Valley.
The Los Angeles Multicultural Leadership Network (LAMLN) is composed of leaders from business, media, nonprofit, and philanthropic organizations. LAMLN meets to discuss significant challenges and solutions for the residents of the greater Los Angeles area. One of LAMLN’s goals is to foster better communications and understanding amongst the many racial and ethnic groups in greater Los Angeles. The Inter-Ethnic Relations Awards is part of this effort.
