Univision has promoted three newsroom executives, giving them expanded roles in the organization. Lourdes Torres has been named director of special projects for Univision News, Jairo Marin has been promoted to executive producer of Univision’s newsmagazine program “Aquí y Ahora” (Here and Now), and Maria Martinez-Henao has been promoted to managing editor of Network News.
“Lourdes, Jairo and Maria play an integral role in Univision’s expanding news coverage and we are pleased to recognize their many contributions with these promotions,” said Daniel Coronell, VP of Univision News in a statement. “We have a long-standing commitment to provide first-rate news coverage which includes breaking news as well as coverage of the issues that are important to the everyday lives of our loyal community. With journalists of this caliber on our team, we are consistently able to achieve this goal.”
UNIVISION ANNOUNCES KEY NEWSROOM PROMOTIONS
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 15, 2011 – Univision Communications Inc., the premier media company serving Hispanic America, today announced the promotion of three members of its News team. Lourdes Torres has been appointed director of special projects for Univision News; Jairo Marin will serve as executive producer of award-winning newsmagazine program “Aquí y Ahora” (Here and Now); and Maria Martinez-Henao has been promoted to managing editor of Network News.
“Lourdes, Jairo and Maria play an integral role in Univision’s expanding news coverage and we are pleased to recognize their many contributions with these promotions,” said Daniel Coronell, vice president of Univision News. “We have a long-standing commitment to provide first-rate news coverage which includes breaking news as well as coverage of the issues that are important to the everyday lives of our loyal community. With journalists of this caliber on our team, we are consistently able to achieve this goal.”
A veteran news producer, Torres has been with Univision Network News for 20 years. Torres has directed Univision’s election coverage since 1994, including special election polls, coverage of the Democratic and Republican National Conventions and past presidential debates. She has also been instrumental in implementing the network’s renewed commitment to various social initiatives including education. Torres is spearheading the network’s first education week slated for October of this year. Most recently, she was responsible for leading the efforts of Univision’s Es el momento education town hall with President Barack Obama. As a producer of special news projects, she has covered major news events such as the presidential elections in Latin America, Pope John Paul II’s historic visits to Cuba and Mexico, the town hall meeting with President Bill Clinton in Argentina and the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. A recipient of two national Emmy® Awards, Torres is a graduate of the University of Texas in Austin, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and Latin American studies.
Marin, an award-winning journalist, started his career at Univision in July 2002 as a special projects coordinator for Univision Television Group. He worked his way up to become producer and senior producer for “Aquí y Ahora” and later managing editor for the weekly primetime news magazine show in May 2007. Before that, Marin was a producer and news director for KMEX Univision 34, the company’s affiliate TV station in Los Angeles. He has been a foreign correspondent for “Noticiero de las Siete” of Programar TV and a radio correspondent for RCN (Radio Cadena Nacional), where he got his start in journalism. Over the course of his career, Marin has been recognized with several journalism awards, among them regional Emmy® Awards in Los Angeles and a GLAAD Media Award. Additionally, as part of his work with the “Aqui y Ahora” team, Marin has been nominated for national Emmy® awards in 2005, 2006 and 2009. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and journalism from Universidad de Bogota “Jorge Tadeo” in Colombia and was a fellow at the University of Southern California’s Center for International Journalism in Los Angeles.
Martinez-Henao joined Univision in February 2002 and has served as the national and international assignment editor for Univision News. She was part of the team responsible for launching Univision’s “Al Punto” (To the Point), the first Sunday morning public affairs show in Spanish-language television, where she also coordinated and produced high profile interviews with world presidents, U.S. political figures, writers, civic leaders and sports personalities. She has also field produced major news events such as political conventions in 2004 and 2008, military coups and elections in Honduras as well as natural disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita, in addition to the recent extensive coverage of Hurricane Irene. Before that, Martinez-Henao served as news director at KNVO Univision 48, Entravision’s affiliate TV station in McAllen, Texas, where she managed the day-to-day operations of the newsroom. Martinez-Henao received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a minor in broadcasting from Florida International University.Univision’s award-winning News division is committed to informing the country’s fastest growing segment across all media platforms, including TV, Radio and Interactive. Hispanics count on the latest and most relevant content that impacts the community through: Univision’s evening, late evening and weekend national newscasts, “Noticiero Univision”; political Sunday affairs program, “Al Punto”; newsmagazine programs “Aqui y Ahora” and “Primer Impacto” (First Impact); as well as morning news on “Despierta America” (Wake Up America). Univision also hosts statewide public affairs shows, “Voz y Voto,” in Texas, California and Puerto Rico. In the past six months, Univision has expanded its network and local news operations by adding Investigative and Documentary Units, as well as adding and expanding local newscasts in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Raleigh.