The role of Hispanic mass media in the United States was one of the main topics featured at the V International Conference for Journalists (V Encuentro Internacional de Periodistas), which was held as part of the 2009 Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL) with the city of Los Angles as its Guest of Honor.

Raúl Peimbert, an award-winning news anchor for Univisión in Los Angeles, took part in the conference and offered the following comments about the University of Guadalajara at Los Angeles (UDGLA): “The University of Guadalajara is the first educational institution with an international profile to address the concerns of [the Hispanic] immigrant community. I believe that the University of Guadalajara is aware of the enormous contributions made by this community, whose members are in need of better educational opportunities. Thousands or perhaps millions don’t have access to college or other forms of higher education not only because they lack resources, but because these institutions put limits on the opportunities available to undocumented students. [UDGLA] is an important project which will transform the image of Mexican immigrants in the United States. Why? Because they are emphasizing education, and education always leads to change.”

During his participation at the V International Conference for Journalists, organized by Medios UdeG, Peimbert said that it is important for Hispanic media outlets to be more than simple news broadcasters. “Outlets that do not promote activity within a society are doomed to failure,” he said. He went on to explain that it is imperative to create high-quality Spanish language content which includes spaces for citizen participation, and that this entails supporting new electronic media projects targeted at young audiences, especially on the internet.

While Hispanic media have given a voice to immigrants in the United States, the needs and demands of this population are only getting bigger. Among them are the need for education, and having legal residence with recognized rights, he added.

As a journalist, Peimbert has interviewed most of Latin America’s most prominent leaders in addition to leading personalities in the fields of music, letters and the arts. He has also been recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in the United States, and in 1994 he received the “Crystal Apple” award in New York for his work with the Hispanic community. That same year, Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan declared Peimbert the city’s “Guest of Honor” and in Mexico he received “La Presea de la Libertad de Expresión.” In addition to Univisión, Peimbert’s career has included stints at CBS Telenoticias, Radio Única, MVS Noticias and Telemundo.