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NAHJ issues guidance on proper use of Spanish surnames

Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is disturbed by the shooting-death of 14-year-old Valentina Orellana Peralta in Los Angeles, CA on Dec. 23. The teen and her mother were shopping for dresses at a Burlington store in North Hollywood when an officer from the Los Angeles Police Department fired his gun and killed Daniel Elena Lopez, a man who police say was assaulting customers. Orellana was also killed during the shooting incident, according to news reports.

As the story continues to unfold, NAHJ urges reporters and editors to verify how people of Latin heritage use their last names. The Orellana case is an example of the importance of addressing cultural and linguistic representation in newsrooms:

Tribute to late photojournalist Nick Oza follows a chance encounter along border

We've lost many loved ones in recent years, but among the most notable was that of Arizona Republic photojournalist Nick Oza, left. In the past Mr. Oza had been a guest lecturer at ALMA's high school workshops, generously sharing his experiences with young aspirants.

palabra, an NAHJ multimedia platform that spotlights independent journalists, now features a tribute to Mr. Oza, titled One Shot. It is written by Jude Joffe-Block, an audio producer and journalist in Phoenix who covers immigration. The story, which follows a chance encounter at the Arizona border, was chosen by palabra Managing Editor Valeria Fernandez as the final piece to end 2021. Read it here.