The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), in partnership with the Facebook Journalism Project, recently awarded a $10,000 scholarship to Klein College alumnus, adjunct instructor and TUTV Spanish-language show creator and host Rafael Logroño.
The NAHJ bills itself as the largest organization of Latino journalists in the United States—about 2,200 members—that works toward advancing the role of Latino journalists and accurate representations of Latinos in the news business. Facebook in January announced that it had established scholarships and that, for the 2018-2019 academic year, it would offer the money through the NAHJ, Asian American Journalists Association, Native American Journalists Association and National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association.
“It is our hope that this scholarship will be a great help to the future generation of Latino journalists who will play an important role in building that community,” Alberto B. Mendoza, the NAHJ executive director, said in a statement.
In a statement, Facebook said the four organizations “are strengthening the pipeline of diversity in journalism.”
“Thank you so much! Beyond honored and grateful to win this award. Looking forward to starting at @TempleUniv’s @TUKleinCollege again! #MoreLatinosInNews and of course, #PlantanoPower.
“Everything I do I try to represent my community,” said Logroño, who in April 2017 launched “La Charla,” (“The Talk” in English), the first Spanish-language talk show on TUTV.
“I am passionate about diversifying media,” he said. “We need more voices in media—more women, more people from other sexual orientations—so I really believe in that if I want to see the change, then I have to be the change.”
In August, Logroño, KLN ’17, will start graduate studies in journalism and also teach a section of Latin American media studies.
In spring 2018, he worked as an adjunct instructor in public speaking and loved the experience. Logroño, 24, identifies as a member of the Latinx and LGBTQ communities. And he is the “inaugural director” of the Klein College Latinx Students Association.
The son of Dominican parents who settled in the United States about 30 years ago, Logroño is the only college graduate in his immediate family. He grew up in North Philadelphia, earned an associate’s degree in communication studies from the Community College of Philadelphia and a bachelor of arts degree in the same field from Klein College.
“I’m debating my future right now, but that’s the good thing about my generation—we take on all different kinds of challenges,” he said. “For me, I’ve come to really enjoy teaching. I’m there leading the students and we’re working toward a goal.