FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Candace Thompson
UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc.
(703) 854-3585
cthompson@unityjournalists.org

UNITY Elects New Leadership

Elections held at fall board meeting

McLean, Va., Oct. 12 - Barbara Ciara, immediate past president of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), has been elected president of UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc., to complete the term vacated by Rafael Olmeda, who resigned as UNITY president this past week.

Ms. Ciara was chosen by UNITY's board of directors at its fall board meeting this past weekend. Joanna Hernandez, member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), was elected as the organization's vice president.

Their terms began on Oct. 10, 2009, and will run through Dec. 31, 2010.

"As president I will continue UNITY's goal to save, keep and create new jobs in journalism," said Ms. Ciara.  "As alliance partners we have a voice in the chorus that cannot be ignored." 

Ms. Ciara has previously served as an officer on both the UNITY and NABJ board of directors.  Ms. Hernandez is a previous board member of NAHJ, where she served as a regional director.

"I have every confidence the mission and goals of UNITY will continue to be well-served under its new leadership.  Barbara Ciara is a dynamic and inspiring voice for our cause, and with Joanna Hernandez at her side, UNITY is in for a phenomenal time," said Mr. Olmeda. 

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About UNITY: Journalists of Color
UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc. is a strategic alliance advocating news coverage about people of color, and aggressively challenging its organizations at all levels to reflect the nation’s diversity. UNITY, representing more than 10,000 journalists of color, is comprised of four national associations: Asian American Journalists Association, National Association of Black Journalists, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and the Native American Journalists Association.

In addition to planning the largest regular gathering of journalists in the nation, UNITY develops programs and institutional relationships that promote its mission. For more information on UNITY, visit www.unityjournalists.org, email info@unityjournalists.org or call (703) 854-3585.