NAHJ Board Member’s “Open Letter” Criticizes Leadership
A board member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists sent a “open letter” to NAHJ members on New Year’s Day,
criticizing the organization’s leadership for “working against transparency and accountability,” and asserting that “a fiscal crisis has now turned into ‘thug tactics’ to silence the voice of those of us speaking on behalf of our membership.”
Patricio G. Espinoza, the board’s online officer, sent “A Time for Change, Open Letter to NAHJ” in the wake of a projected $240,000 deficit for the organization and a letter to this columnist from the organization’s president, Michele Salcedo.
Text at the end of this column.
Text of NAHJ Board Member’s “Open Letter” on Leadership
January 1, 2011
Open Letter to NAHJ & Michele Salcedo, President:
I have been a member of the Board of Directors for three years. I have attended 98% of all board meetings, and have been involved with NAHJ for almost 20 years. I was recruited by Ricardo Pimentel, and appointed to join the board in 2008 as NAHJ Spanish Language Officer. In 2010, I decided to run for office, after Rebecca Aguilar, I received the second highest percentage of votes, and I was elected as NAHJ Online Officer. [source]
The following is an open letter. It does not intend, reflect, nor speak on behalf of NAHJ’s Board of Directors. It is my independent voice, and an open call for change long overdue at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Quotes included here have been published in the media.
To be clear, I only speak on my behalf based on thoughts and opinions of the membership I represent, and in what I believe to be an act of transparency for the benefit of all members of NAHJ. I share this with you, and call for the strength of your voice to demand in 2011 a new era of financial responsibility, transparency, accountability, forward thinking and a new generation of leadership at NAHJ.
As you know, some of us ran on a platform of change, but almost half a year later we find our organization in even deeper trouble, and change is yet to come.
Today NAHJ projects a $240,000 deficit, yet most, if not all concerns from those of us seeking fiscally responsible changes continue to be ignored. Most recently, at least four board members, including myself, on the record, have opposed and have voted against “robbing Peter to pay Paul”, or in this case, the misguided strategy to keep on taking money from our endowment, to in great part, just continue to cover payroll NAHJ clearly cannot afford without tangible results and return on investment.
Jessica Durkin, NAHJ Region 3 Director: “This is a fiscal crisis that simply cannot be tolerated, and in my opinion, fundamental changes to the organization are not only needed, but long overdue. That’s why I voted against another loan — a band-aid — to continue with the status quo.” [source: http://facebook.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11af3f05623fb86628f0ba117&id=23f09165fe&e=4af1d5c8ad] To make matters worse, a fiscal crisis has now turned into “thug tactics” to silence the voice of those of us speaking on behalf of our membership and in practice inhibiting our ability as elected members of the board to do our job.
In an email Michele Salcedo, NAHJ President sent to Richard Prince, on 12/23/10, copied to the board with a warning to “not distribute”, Salcedo goes as far as accusing Prince’s reporting on NAHJ [in] “Journal-ism, The Maynard Institute”, to have an agenda, and goes on to suggest, by name, board members like myself are providing information for his reports.
For the record, I have not spoken to Mr. Prince on behalf of NAHJ. That said, last we checked, this is a democracy, and democracies are built upon freedom of speech and access to information. Myself, and anyone in the board and the NAHJ membership, have the right to freely express our personal points of view. We don’t have the right, however, to use intimidation tactics to silence nor bully anyone’s voice. A journalism organization should promote and encourage transparency not hamper it.
A few months ago Rebecca Aguilar was in fact falsely accused of talking to Richard Prince, and most recently, Jessica Durkin was reprimanded for her statement to her regional membership regarding our fiscal deficit (above). Earlier this year, a student representative was bullied and humiliated in public as she was ousted for no fault of her own [source]. And now NAHJ Financial Officer, Russell Contreras, is actively seeking my removal arguing without base lack of participation, and talking to the media.
Despite these misguided efforts, let me assure you that our voice of concern and calls for change will not be silenced as long as NAHJ seems to be managed as a third world country where “[cliques]” rule, freedom is censored, and the interest of the greater good is forgotten.
Actions speak louder than words, and thus far NAHJ under current leadership seems only interested in working against transparency and accountability. Informing our membership is punished, and statements more appropriate for a neighborhood bully than a representative of a journalists organization are ignored.
Russell Contreras, NAHJ Financial Officer: “This ain’t wikileaking inform about the war in Iraq…” “…where I come from, snitches get stitches” [source: http://mije.org/richardprince/nahj-projects-240000-deficit-year] But the fact is the NAHJ Online committee, under my direction, has repeatedly suggested such information should be readily available in our website, shared and consulted with the membership BEFORE any actions affecting our organization are taken, and NOT AFTER THE FACT, and then in a very subtle way in generic holiday greetings:
Richard Prince reports: ” ….the opening paragraph was,”The holidays are hard upon us. Many of us are rushing around buying last minute gifts, sending out holiday cards to those we hold dear but don’t see as often as we’d like, getting ready for feasts and fiestas.” In the sixth paragraph, the message said “The board approved in a conference call on Dec. 18 another bridge loan to be taken from the stock fund, this one for $25,000. The same terms apply as the one taken in August: It is to be repaid by June 1 at 3 percent simple interest. The vote was 8-4.” [source: http://mije.org/richardprince/nahj-projects-240000-deficit-year] One third of the board has voted against such loans, not to mention the many emails some of our board members have received since repudiating borrowing money to pay salaries of a staff clearly overwhelmed and unable to make a change. This, while other organizations have in fact taken steps we are yet to even consider.
Sharon Pian Chan, AAJA, President: “We changed executive directors and we are now headed into AAJA’s 30th year…” “We are projected to end 2010 with a $399,000 surplus, compared to a $207,000 deficit last year.” [source: http://facebook.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11af3f05623fb86628f0ba117&id=3dbc809b29&e=4af1d5c8ad] Below is a summary of my actions that I believe are consistent with the wishes of our constituents:
Yes, I have been outspoken in sharing our membership concerns about NAHJ’s deficit, staff, loans, programs, fundraising and reluctance to change.
Yes, I voted NO to the last two loans of borrowing first $50k and then $25k from our endowment funds.
Yes, I believe strong changes are needed in NAHJ staff and leadership. We can’t continue to raise funds to keep up covering salaries with no return on investment while NAHJ’s deficit goes deeper into debt, and while hundreds of our fellow journalists are still unemployed.
Yes, I missed the last convention, and I missed our first board meeting this past Oct. in Atlanta, because having been unemployed in both occasions, I could not afford the economic impact on my family associated with a 4-5 day trip for a one-day board meeting. But more importantly, aside from the personal hardship, I could not in principle be a part of spending precious NAHJ’s funds for meetings that could be conducted for free.
Yes, I am against expensive out of town board meetings with money we don’t have and therefore increasing NAHJ’s deficit. It seems highly inappropriate and fiscally irresponsible. This practice needs to stop now. We must meet using today’s web technology available for free or at very little cost rather than keep on asking our membership for donations to cover expenses:
Michele Salcedo: “At the October board meeting in Atlanta, we set a goal for the board to raise $36,000 by the end of the year. We are nowhere near meeting that goal. That shortfall, coupled with outstanding pledges, corporate contributions, and sponsorships, has put NAHJ’s current cash flow at dangerously low levels.” [source: http://mije.org/richardprince/nahj-projects-240000-deficit-year]
Without a doubt, traveling and board meeting expenses contribute to those “dangerous low levels”. Just do the math, round trip airfare for staff and some board members, five star hotels, meals, and consultants among other expenses. Certainly there must be a better, more efficient way to tackle administrative meetings and related expenses.
As NAHJ Online Officer, I have in many occasions suggested alternate, more effective methods to meet, as well as fundraising using today’s online resources, yet most, if not all, of our Online Committee suggestions have been ignored to the point we have basically become a committee in title only. The fact is that in an era of new media and web applications we have not been allowed to provide the expertise desperately needed by the organization. In one way or another the same challenges, in my opinion, face other board members and NAHJ committees calling for change.
In closing, as we enter a New Year and our 2011 convention “Un Nuevo Amanecer – A New Day for Our Story” approaches, I hope this open letter encourages in fact a new dawn of growth and changes for NAHJ. To that end, I will continue to speak on behalf of our membership, Latino journalists and for transparency and accountability.
It is not about Who, How, When or If… It is about here and now. And it is up to you NAHJ to watch it go by, and crumble away, stand by for more or… Take action today!
Gracias,
Patricio G. Espinoza, NAHJ, Online Officer
patricio.g.espinoza (at) gmail.com
