By Christian Thomas
Morelys Urbano, a 24-year-old National Association of Hispanic Journalists Afro-Latino Task Force member, can’t remember when she first became a member of the organization, but she does recall her decision to join NABJ was a no-brainer.
“There are people that may attend NAHJ and feel out of place, or there are people that may attend NABJ and feel out of place, but I feel community with both,” Urbano said.
For the thousands of journalists who call NABJ home, the organization acts as a safe haven for community, advocacy and opportunity. But for Afro-Latino journalists, their NABJ membership is only part of their story.
Since 1984, Afro-Latino journalists have existed within both organizations and attended each of the organizations’ events respectively.
But, after NABJ rescheduled the date of its 2027 convention from August 18-22 to August 4-8 in Houston, the same week as the NAHJ plans to host its convention in Minneapolis, the decision to attend both conventions became culturally weighted.
“I’ve been part of attending events and being part of the community for as long as I can remember them, just the same way that I have been a Black and Latina woman all of my life,” Urbano said.
Through the years, NABJ and NAHJ have collaborated, bringing Black and Hispanic journalists together for fellowship and education.
For over 20 years, NABJ along with NAHJ, the Asian American Journalists Association, Native American Journalists Association and the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association unified under the umbrella coalition, UNITY, Journalists of Diversity, until it ceased operations in 2018. Four joint conventions were held under UNITY.
NABJ withdrew from UNITY in 2011 followed by NAHJ in 2013 for financial and governance differences. NABJ and NAHJ held two joint conventions since then.
In 2024, NAHJ withdrew from a joint convention with NABJ in Chicago to celebrate its 40th anniversary in the organization’s Hollywood hometown.
In March, NABJ rescheduled its 2027 convention citing the initial dates, “fell significantly outside NABJ’s traditional early-August convention window,” NABJ President Errin Haines said in an email to the organization.
Haines expressed concerns that the convention’s original dates could’ve caused problems for the organization’s membership who go back to school and attend workshops late August.
NAHJ leadership argued the change complicates its plans for next year’s convention and risks financial losses, split sponsors and reduced registration for both organizations.
“It’s clear that it’s going to affect membership greatly if the dates are not changed,” NAHJ Region 3 Director Karina Cuevas said. “Exhibitors, recruiters [and] members might not be able to make it because a lot of our members are also part of NABJ.
“There is some cross interaction there,” Cuevas said.
Cuevas also noted that changing the dates of the convention could result in hotel fines.
“If we opt to change the dates, it can be up to anywhere [from] thousands, up to $100,000,” Cuevas said.
NABJ leadership stands firm
Despite NAHJ’s concerns, Haines confirmed the organization will continue to host next year’s convention during the first week of August.
“2027 is set,” Haines said. “We look forward to our members joining us next summer.”
Haines acknowledged the concerns, and hoped minority journalism organizations and sponsorship partners will continue to support both organizations.
“We certainly hope our partners that have been with us, that have been with both organizations over the years, continue to support our organizations next year,” Haines said. “I understand that our conventions are going to be during the same week, but just as these organizations commit to supporting us year after year, we would hope that they would be standing with us and continuing their commitment to diversity and representation with both of our organizations next summer in Houston and Minneapolis respectively.”
The state of the industry
Cuevas also worries this conflict will send a negative message to an industry already embattled by DEI cuts and layoffs.
“It’s going to put a strain on an already burdened industry,” Cuevas said. “People are losing jobs, they’re not going to be able to go to the conferences, and, at the same time, it sends the message that we’re not a united front. That should not be happening, especially at this time in this moment in this country.”
Cuevas warned the conflicting conventions could also affect more than the organizations’ leadership, but trickle down to its members.
“Conflicts like this do affect everyone,” Cuevas said.
For members like Urbano, who already pay annual dues and convention fees for both organizations, NABJ’s decision emphasizes a societal issue: erasure.
“My call to leadership would be to have in mind their members and the complex identity of their members,” Urbano said. “I think our voices and our concerns should be as important as other members. That is not something that [anybody] should do, because it’s a hard decision.
“I haven’t even made the decision for myself yet,” Urbano added.
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