I [Nominating Member Name], an employee of [The Company the Nominating Member Works for and Their Position] support the candidacy of Robert Hernandez for Academic At-Large Officer in the election of the NAHJ Board of Directors.<\/p>\n

This statement counts as my virtual signature and I have included my full contact information below.<\/p>\n

Date:<\/p>\n

Phone:<\/p>\n

Email:\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The long version:
\nFirst, I have to admit I normally preach about new leadership to head up organizations like ours because we need to evolve and change to reflect the world we work and live in. We need modern leaders for these modern times. Not the same old talking points and passive organizations from years past. Why look back when we need to move forward?<\/p>\n

Because of that thinking, I was reluctant to serve on the board again. Why should I return when there should be new faces that can lead?<\/p>\n

So much has changed in my career since I served. In all honesty, I feel like I was a kid when I was first on the board, trying to normalize the digital\u2019s role in journalism just over 10 years ago. That sounds crazy, but that was the struggle for journalists working online.<\/p>\n

Now, after two decades in this industry, I think we need bold leadership that delivers on empowering our members. We can\u2019t complain about the lack of diversity. A hashtag is not enough. We have to empower ourselves, because we are the ones who will fight for us and for inclusion.<\/p>\n

I think the training I have organized for our conference is in line with the changes and the direction we need to go in.<\/p>\n

I think I do bring a perspective that NAHJ needs.<\/p>\n

And, I\u2019ll be honest, if the bylaws allowed it\u2026. I\u2019d be running for president of NAHJ this year. <\/p>\n

Our bylaws are out of date. You don\u2019t get corrupted by taking a different type of media job. Once a journalist, always a journalist. Once a passionate member of NAHJ, always a member of NAHJ. <\/p>\n

People who know me know that I am a reluctant academic. I am more a hackademic. But if that is the only spot I can run for to serve on the board, then so be it.<\/p>\n

I stand with NAHJ. <\/p>\n

Just as NAHJ has stood with me. Throughout my entire career adult life. <\/p>\n

I hope you vote (our turnout rate is horrible!)\u2026 and you consider voting for me to continue to serve NAHJ.<\/p>\n

Gracias,<\/p>\n

Robert<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I am a product of NAHJ. Since I first attended the Student Campus when I was in community college to planning the curriculum for this year\u2019s conference in Miami. I have run the Student Online Project for more than five years, help organize what was then called the \u201cNew Media Tracks\u201d and served on the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,14],"tags":[243,46,246,95],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.webjournalist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2948"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.webjournalist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.webjournalist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.webjournalist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.webjournalist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2948"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blog.webjournalist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2948\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2956,"href":"https:\/\/blog.webjournalist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2948\/revisions\/2956"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.webjournalist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2948"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.webjournalist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2948"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.webjournalist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}