The solution is about all of us working together towards equity, and not just individual groups. In making the turn from identifying the challenges to then speaking about the solutions, Latino voices, Black voices, and Chicago Tonight need to be inclusive of all voices. Free Spirit Media article: https://freespiritmedia.org/features-search/2020/10/29/latino-voices-being-heard-on-chicago-tonight-latino-voices

ICYMI The #latinovoiceswttw News Community Conversation last this week. Guests Carlos Hernandez-Falcon, Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, Rogelio Lopez, and Esther Sciammarella provided insights on how #covid_19, #presidentialelection2020, inequality in access to healthcare (as well as other topics) are affecting the #hispanic #latino community. Link to YouTube VIDEO: https://youtu.be/uuNvbFRGGTo ChicagoTonight: LatinoVoices, Saturdays @ 6P CT

The major concern in Illinois for voters is what’s going to happen beginning with early voting. An overwhelming number of Illinoisans have been sending in an order to mail to be able to file their ballots through the mail. We’ve seen the numbers triple from 2016 to 2020 in regards to the amount of requests…

“Chicago Tonight” is looking to paint a more complete picture of our city’s Black and Latino communities by launching two new shows this Saturday and Sunday: “Chicago Tonight: Black Voices,” hosted by Brandis Friedman, and “Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices,” hosted by Hugo Balta. Here’s the article: https://news.wttw.com/2020/09/09/amplifying-voices-new-weekend-shows-debut-wttw

Balta’s idea was the “Chicago Tonight: Voices” series, which is scheduled to premiere this weekend. Friedman hosts “Chicago Tonight: Black Voices,” while Balta helms the Latino edition. The weekly half-hour programs are slated to include panel discussions on topics pertinent to Black and Latino Chicagoans; one-on-one interviews with community leaders; and stories that highlight Black…

NAHJ President Hugo Balta said in a video posted Wednesday night that the commission that sanctions the debates — expected to be watched by as many as 80 million TV viewers — is perpetuating the “erasure” of Latinos by failing to represent them in the moderator choices announced earlier that day. Link to complete Los…

“Chicago Tonight: Voices is building on a philosophy of fulfilling our journalism responsibility in producing coverage that’s fair and accurate, on a foundation of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Balta says. “Latino Voicescontinues that mission, that focus. We are looking to shed light on issues that are most important to Latinos in Chicago, as well as…

The first time I remember hearing the word “minority” in describing non-white people was at school. It was frequently used by professors to frame discussions around the country’s population, but it was also a negative narrative integrated into other aspects of society like employment, education, healthcare, and crime. “Minorities” were characterized as a group of…

Friedman has been on a fast track since Balta arrived in February as WTTW’s news director and executive producer of “Chicago Tonight.” He’s brought new energy and purpose to the show while continuing to benefit from the excellent work of Carol Marin and others. Under Balta’s direction, “Chicago Tonight” has been laser-focused on the local…

What do you think the role of journalism is in covering this election while there are multiple crises facing the country and potentially eclipsing the election in terms of the public’s attention? Balta: In these unprecedented times of crisis, the public is looking to local, state, and national leaders to help them understand and navigate…