The mission of the National Hispanic Media Coalition is to "advance Latino employment and programming equity throughout the entertainment industry and to promote telecommunications policies to include the Latino community." After taking on this task from its HQ in Pasadena, California, the and statewide chapters in California, New York, Illinois, Arizona, Georgia and Michigan, it is now setting up an office where the lawmakers and bureaucrats are, Washington DC. Inez Gonzalez, NHMC Vice President of Media Policy, will head up the new office. "Inez will be a tremendous asset for us in Washington," explained Alex Nogales, NHMC President/CEO, "her connections and vast experience in regional politics makes her the ideal person to manage this office and help us affect positive change for our community." Gonzalez has an inroad into Congress — she was a District Director for sitting Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA).
Nogales says a top-of-mind goal is counter negative language from "conservative talk show hosts," which is said to have contributed to a 25% upswing in anti-Latino crime since 2004. "Hate speech is not free speech," explained Nogales, "and the best way to ensure that hate speech is not tolerated, is to work closely with the policy makers. This is why we’ve opened an office in DC."
