Preserve CCNMA Archives for Research & Posterity

Hi, I am Joe Rodriguez, treasurer of the California Chicano Newsmen's Association. Ay Dios Mio! I meant to say "News Media" Association. See my explanation of this macho lapse below.

We are well on the way to raising $5,000 to preserve CCNMA's archives for research and posterity, thanks to about three dozen of you who have donated.  However, we have lots more friends out there.  You can help us with a quick and easy, fully tax-deductible, donation.

We have a treasure trove of photos, files, newletters and more that tell CCNMA's story. For example, here you see the official Articles of Incorporation stamped by Jerry Brown, California Secretary of State at the time. Look closely at our name. Yup, it says News Men's Association.

As one version of the story goes, five or so Latino male journalists -- one was Colombian -- gathered in an L.A. Times parking lot some time after the police killing of veteran journalist Ruben Salazar in 1970.  Somebody pulled out a six-pack of beer -- I think it was Budweiser -- and they discussed how to break open the doors of American newsrooms for more Latino journalists. 

“We had no pipeline," recalls Frank Sotomayor, a former Los Angeles Times editor and a CCNMA founding member. "We wanted to prime the pump to get people into the media."

They sure did. For five decades, CCNMA has granted hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to more than 800 high school and college journalism students, as well as sponsor journalism workshops, job fairs and professional development opportunities for thousands more. Count me among them. Listening to those inspiring guys at a CCNMA career day in the mid-1970s helped me decide to become a journalist. 

Eventually, when the first woman joined, they quickly changed the name to "News Media Assocation."  It later became CCNMA: Latino Journalists of California to be more inclusive of all Latinos. 

History like this deserves a showcase.  As CCNMA’s 50th anniversary approaches next year, we are looking to transfer our archives to a prominent, university research center or library in Los Angeles. 

Our fundraising goal of $5,000 will cover the cost of temporary storage and sorting through printed and digital records, correspondence, photos and videos. 

CCNMA is a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) organization in good standing. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. All donations  will go directly from GoFundMe to CCNMA's bank account at Wells Fargo Bank.