Journalism and Democracy
Maria Hinojosa is the founder, president, and CEO of , an independent nonprofit organization producing multimedia content for and about the new American mainstream to empower people to navigate the complexities of an increasingly diverse and connected world. Hinojosa began working as a journalist 30 years ago and, in 2022, won a Pulitzer Prize for her podcast . Although she was often the first Latina in many newsrooms where she began working as a reporter, those experiences motivated her to create independent, multimedia journalism spaces that explore and lend a critical voice to the diverse and complex American experience. Hinojosa鈥檚 journalistic goal is to report on stories that were and are rarely talked about and to cover communities that are never shown on TV.聽聽Hinojosa said that journalists have to understand and trust their instincts. She draws on her own traumatic experiences with 9/11 to help her do her job. That trauma, she said, gives her the space to do reports on immigrants and the USA鈥檚 capacity for inhumanity. These stories are often traumatizing, but because she has dealt with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), she can find her purpose in doing them.聽
Hinojosa said she understands how people have to transform their trauma and rage into something extraordinary, positive, and filled with light; essentially, this is the heart of Futuro Media. She said being a journalist allows her to be with people where they are right now and experience their emotions with them. Although experiencing trauma is a painful experience, Hinojosa can turn that into a source of inspiration to help minority communities feel seen and heard.聽
Journalism is of service and mission, not about money, Hinojosa says. That鈥檚 why she decided to make Futuro Media a nonprofit organization鈥攕he does what she does for the people she reports about. She said she is frequently asked what her 鈥渁genda鈥� is. She says people think that because she is a Latina journalist, it鈥檚 the only reason her journalism centers around immigrants. However, she said her 鈥渁genda鈥� is to make people feel things and ensure they don鈥檛 forget those feelings.聽She strongly believes in this since journalism should help advocate for those who can鈥檛 speak for themselves. As a part of her mission, Hinojosa said she is showing how the media can help us realize our power to save democracy.
Kevin Lux Ven, Carroll School Undergraduate Program Assistant
This co-sponsored event was part of the Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy's spring 2023 symposium on Journalism and Democracy.聽