The Reynolds School of Journalism hosted a special guest the week of March 2 as its first Reynolds Diversity Fellow in Residence: Hugo Morales, co-founder and executive director of Radio Bilingue, the National Latino Public Radio Network. Morales was interviewed by KUNR's David Stipech for the Reynolds School Media Watch segment that aired on Beyond the Headlines (air date 3-13-15).
"The Reynolds Diversity Fellow in Residence is a new program we've launched to expose students to issues of diversity and equity in communication ... to illuminate these issues ... so central in such a multicultural state as Nevada," said Al Stavitsky, Dean of the Reynolds School. "We received the support of the Reynolds the Charles H. Stout Foundation and McClatchy Company Foundation to run this program, and the natural first fellow for us was Hugo Morales. He really is a remarkable broadcaster who has devoted his entire professional life to giving voice to underserved communities."
Morales spent time in classrooms, visited with students and faculty over lunch, met with Latino journalists and gave a public presentation during his three days on the university campus.
Radio Bilingue is headquartered in Fresno and Oakland and has 12 stations in California, Texas, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico plus more than 80 satellite affiliates in the Northern Hemisphere. From very meager beginnings from a family of farm laborers, Morales eventually went on to graduate from Harvard and Harvard Law School before founding this global radio network.
Morales is a MacArthur Foundation Fellow and recipient of public broadcasting’s highest honor, the Edward R. Murrow award. He also received the Lannan Foundation’s Cultural Freedom Prize and is widely known for his efforts to shine the light on freedom and courage, creativity and human rights as the core of the work he does.
Morales shares his story, how he became involved in broadcasting, his message for young people today, and why he sees his roots in poverty as a "blessing." Morales also discusses diversity -- or lack thereof -- in mainstream public broadcasting, and how to get more diverse voices and content into communities whose Latino and other populations are growing.
More about Reynolds Diversity Fellow in Residence Hugo Morales
