In Huffington Post Blog, NHMC Dismisses Academy's Latino Inclusion Claims, Calls for Film Industry Commitment to Diversity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 6, 2014
CONTACT
Brian Pacheco, NHMC
bpacheco@www.nhmc.org
(213) 718-0732

In Huffington Post Blog, NHMC Dismisses Academy's Latino Inclusion Claims, Calls for Film Industry Commitment to Diversity 

"I celebrate the fact that this year's Oscars had the most Black presenters, and that its host was openly gay and a woman. But lets be very clear: for the U.S Latino community, we were simply not invited."  

PASADENA, Calif. - In a Huffington Post piece published today, National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) President & CEO Alex Nogales rejects claims that "diversity was the winner" at the 2014 Academy Awards, calling attention to the fact that American Latinos "were simply not invited." In the piece, Nogales dismissed a prominent media outlet's inaccurate claim that 11% of the Oscar presenters list was "Hispanic or black," calling it "irresponsible" for media outlets and the Academy to claim actress Penélope Cruz's participation as a victory for the American Latino community. "We don't know ourselves if the European actress identifies as Hispanic, and certainly not as an American Latina," he wrote.
Highlighting the fact that American Latinos are the least represented on screen despite watching more movies on average than any other American group, Nogales said this year's Oscars shed light on the fact that American Latinos continue to be shut out from the film industry, and called on film studios and organizations to commit to diversity and Latino inclusion, welcoming and urging "the same working relationship with major film studios and organizations [as we have with major television networks]."
"I recognize the steps made towards inclusion of American Latinos," Nogales added. "But it is even more critical to recognize the long road still ahead. Or else we risk undermining progress thinking that we have reached real equality." Nogales' full blog post can be read at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-nogales/not-a-big-night-for-latinos_b_4905453.html. To schedule an interview with Nogales, please contact Brian Pacheco at 626-792-6462,  213-718-0732, or bpacheco@www.nhmc.org. Nogales is available in English and Spanish.
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About NHMC The National Hispanic Media Coalition is a non-partisan, non-profit, media advocacy and civil rights organization established in 1986 in Los Angeles, California. Its mission is to educate and influence media corporations on the importance of including U.S. Latinos at all levels of employment. It augments the pool of Latino talent with its professional development programs. It challenges media that carelessly exploit negative Latino stereotypes. It scrutinizes and opines on media and telecommunications policy issues. Learn more at www.nhmc.org. Receive real-time updates on Facebook and Twitter @NHMC.   Sobre NHMC La Coalición Nacional Hispana ante los Medios (NHMC, por sus siglas en inglés) es una organización no partidista y sin fines de lucro que defiende los derechos civiles e impulsa la inclusión de los latinos en los medios de comunicación. Su misión es educar e influenciar a las empresas de medios de comunicación sobre la importancia de incluir a los latinos estadounidenses en todos los niveles de empleo. Aumenta la cantidad de talento latino con sus programas de desarrollo profesional, desafía a los medios de comunicación que irresponsablemente explotan estereotipos negativos de latinos, y analiza y opina sobre cuestiones de políticas de telecomunicaciones y de medios de comunicación. Para más información, visite: www.nhmc.org. Conéctese con NHMC en Facebook y Twitter @NHMC para recibir actualizaciones.
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National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) is a 40+ year old 501(c)(3) non-profit, nonpartisan, civil and human rights organization that was founded to eliminate hate, discrimination, and racism toward Latino and marginalized communities.

We advance Latino visibility and influence from the halls of Washington, D.C., to the studios of Hollywood. Through our media advocacy and workforce development initiatives, NHMC creates spaces where diverse creators can connect, collaborate, and thrive. Our Series Scriptwriters Program, Latinx Stream Showcase, Creators Networking Program, Careers in Entertainment Youth Program, and Media Advocacy Fellowships serve as both incubators and pipelines, preparing the next generation of storytellers, advocates, and industry leaders. Through mentorship, education, networking opportunities, and direct access to entertainment executives, these programs help transform emerging talent into lasting industry voices while expanding authentic representation across media.

We lead the work to eliminate online hate and disinformation across media platforms. We advocate in the space of Artificial Intelligence when it intersects with civil & human rights, including making sure Latino-Interest and children’s protections are included in AI initiatives and implementations. We advocate for the Affordable Connectivity Program, Lifeline Program, Net Neutrality protections, and closing the digital divide for Latino and other marginalized communities. NHMC works in partnership with other social justice organizations to safeguard democracy in the United States of America.

NHMC is a not-for-profit, and provides equal opportunities to all individuals without regard to race, religion, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

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