The last day of the National Ethnic Media Expo was the day where publishers and media folks display their work and network. There were approximately 80 tables showcasing newspapers, magazines, and brochures of the various ethnic publications. Television and radio were also present, as well as online where my company was the minority.
This is my first attendance and my company’s fourth. I heard this year was a smaller turnout compared to past expos, especially last year’s New York, which had the largest attendance. But it’s still encouraging that know that tight economy did not quell or discourage editorial passion.
I didn’t think I would know anyone at this national event. Was I surprised when I saw my college journalism professor, Juan Gonzales, present a video that chronicled 200 year history of Latino papers in the U.S. His table was located across from my company's table, Inquirer.net, and my boss pointed me out to him as one of his former students.
When he came to our table, I honestly didn’t think he would remember me from 12 years ago since he’s had 100’s of people write for the 39 year old bi-weekly paper that he founded, El Tecolote, a free bilingual Spanish paper that addresses the various Latin immigrant communities of San Francisco .
“Do you remember me?” I eagerly asked. “Yes, I do”, he said. I still couldn’t believe it. I quizzed him further. “I took your Journalism and Feature Writing classes and you asked me to write for El Tecolote and The Guardian.” The Guardian is the City College of San Francisco newspaper. He smiled and nodded.
And then the kicker, “Did you know that I was Filipino?” “Yes”, he quickly affirmed. Wow.For more than a decade, I had assumed that he thought I was Latino (I have been mistaken as Latino by other Latinos more than once). I never asked him before because I was worried that my true identity would exclude me from reporting on those communities since the other writers were Latin. See what happens when you (I) assume!
We did a lot of catching up, fast forwarding through milestones of his newspaper, which is now online and has wider distribution, and my career path. We vowed to keep in touch. I’m now flash rewinding my memory banks to the various articles I wrote and thankfully saved: migrant labor union, Carnival, SF Weekly, employmen
t programs for homeless, teen entrepreneurs, mural arts program, sheep cloning debate, and editorial features.
Wait there’s more! During the latter half of the expo, a few more people spoke on stage. My boss and I had planned to leave to early since she had a 3pm departure flight. So during the last hour of more speeches, I finally head towards the free lunch table near the front of the stage as my stomach grumble for nourishment.
As I reach for my plate, I hear Expo Director, Sandy Close announce “Inquirer.net as winner of the Best Media Kit award” along with other miscellaneous winners that were chosen that day. I look back at my smiling boss who was just as surprised. She proudly walks up the stage and joins about four other winners as I take pictures like a proud mama.
We didn’t know about this category and never knew we were even nominated but we were the chosen one out of 80 booths which included television, Ivy League journalism schools and longer tenured publications. Our media packet wasn’t fancy shmancy or techi sexy slick. Nor was it filled to the gills as some other packets at the Expo. Afterwards, people come to our booth asking for the packet.
Ours was strategically filled with quality, easy to read content. Yes, it’s that simple. Not complicated. A first for my company thanks to my boss’ persistence and smart planning (two years in the making with the help of our talented techi/graphic design colleagues in the Philippines), my creativity (I added a novel free gift to the packet) and my co-worker’s smart tactical organization.
What a way to end an expo: recognition, accomplishment and positive acknowledgment.
Comments