Latina Women Discuss Careers in the Media

With a cry for more opportunity and greater mentorship, three accomplished Latina women discussed their personal stories and career paths in politics and the media.

The Latina journalists spoke yesterday at a panel discussion entitled "Latinas, Politics and the Media" before a captivated and applauding audience of 200 at the Institute of Politic's ARCO Forum. The panel was moderated by Assistant Professor of Education Eileen De Los Reyes.

The three panelists spoke about their family upbringings, using Spanish phrases when they felt the English translation just could not quite capture the sentiment.

Panel member Carolyn Curiel, senior speech writer and special assistant to President Clinton, teared up when she recalled the labors of her grandparents in eking out a living in the railroad construction sites of Kansas. She emphasized the need to help the next generation.

"Keep your arms outstretched and reach out to the person behind you," Curiel said. "There needs to be an unbroken chain that links our community."

Maria Antonieta Collins, senior news anchor for UNIVISION, the Spanish language television station, expressed pride in her Mexican family roots and hope for future generations of Latina journalists working in the United States as she spoke on the panel.

"My grandparents would never have thought their granddaughter would be living the American Dream, telling of others living the Dream for UNIVISION in their language," Collins said.

She noted the transition she made from her life 20 years ago when she meekly asked for an interview in America. Now, Collins said, she demands and yells and threatens for her interviews.

The third panel member, Valerie Menard, associate editor of HISPANIC Magazine, talked about the need for young journalists to develop the Latina voice by working in Spanish language publications.

"I learned the voice of a Latina," Menard said. "There is something about the voice and the look of a magazine that feels familiar."

Collins encouraged Latin-American students to take advantage of the resources at Harvard while Curiel stressed the importance of mentor-ship, prompting John D. Couriel '00 to ask for an internship during the question and answer session.

All three women on the panel agreed that the discussion was a great step forward for Latinas in the media and that more such forums would be planned "with your names and your faces sitting here," Curiel said.

De Los Reyes introduced the panelists with a hearty "Buenas noches" and ended the night with "Hasta la vista" which means, "Until next time.

The third panel member, Valerie Menard, associate editor of HISPANIC Magazine, talked about the need for young journalists to develop the Latina voice by working in Spanish language publications.

"I learned the voice of a Latina," Menard said. "There is something about the voice and the look of a magazine that feels familiar."

Collins encouraged Latin-American students to take advantage of the resources at Harvard while Curiel stressed the importance of mentor-ship, prompting John D. Couriel '00 to ask for an internship during the question and answer session.

All three women on the panel agreed that the discussion was a great step forward for Latinas in the media and that more such forums would be planned "with your names and your faces sitting here," Curiel said.

De Los Reyes introduced the panelists with a hearty "Buenas noches" and ended the night with "Hasta la vista" which means, "Until next time.