Coronel is now the president of the NAHJ St. Louis Executive Board. The local chapter will focus on “promoting nuanced, fact-driven coverage of Latino communities.”
ST. LOUIS — 5 On Your Side reporter Justina Coronel is helping to drive advocacy and education for the St. Louis Latino community through a leadership role with a journalism association.
Friday, the association named Coronel as president of the new St. Louis chapter for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
“Latino stories are St. Louis stories,” Coronel said. “Our goal is to not only empower Latino journalists in the region, but also to make sure that newsrooms reflect the full diversity and complexity of our community.”
NAHJ was founded in 1984 to increase the presence of Latino journalists in newsrooms, improve representation of Latinos in media and advance Latino journalists in all areas of the profession, according to a news release.
The St. Louis chapter will focus on “promoting nuanced, fact-driven coverage of Latino communities while creating opportunities for journalists to deepen their understanding of Latino issues. Plans include hosting trainings, networking events and public forums that will bring together reporters, editors, students and community members.”
Coronel has been a reporter at KSDK since April 2019 and has earned several awards for her work in journalism, including the Associated Press awards for Best Multi-Media Journalist and Best Continuing Coverage, a 40 Under 40 Inductee: Class of 2024, Hispanic Emerging Leader Award 2024 from the St. Louis Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 2024 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, 2023 Safe Connections Impact Award and has received four Mid-America Emmy Award nominations.
Other members of the St. Louis Executive Board include:
- Vice-President Brian Munoz – visuals editor, St. Louis Public Radio.
- Secretary Avery Martinez – water and agriculture reporter, KMOV.
- Treasurer Cecilia Velazquez – publisher, Red Latina.
NAHJ has more than 4,000 members nationwide and a network of 23 professional chapters and 28 student chapters.
