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The Historical
Significance of the José Marti Publishing Awards
‘The one who
foments and spreads the opposition and the hatred of the races
commits a sin against mankind.’ - José Martí
Washington, DC--(HISPANIC
PR WIRE)--March 16, 2006--At the 21st Annual Convention &
Exposition of the National Association of Hispanic Publications
NAHP, scheduled for March 29 to April 2nd in Las Vegas, the José
Martí Publishing Awards will be given to outstanding publications
and journalists working in the association's member Hispanic media
organizations.
The awards are given
in recognition of the valuable contributions made by over 200
publishers targeting the Hispanic community in the United States.
The José Martí
Awards are given in the following categories: Excellence in Editorial
Quality and Design, Outstanding Sections, Written Word, Design,
Photo and Cartoons, and Marketing. New finalist criteria will
be announced on March 20th and this year there is a new element
of national recognition for finalists in select categories.
The awards' namesake,
José Martí, is in honor of the Cuban poet, essayist,
writer and powerful journalist. His name is synonymous with Cuba's
independence.
Those who knew him
admired his patriotism. His more than ten years of exile in the
United States, allowed him to develop his thoughts as one of most
recognized Cuban politicians of the 19th century.
In the United States,
he organized others to bring forth the independence of Cuba, his
country. His struggle and strategies for the liberty of Cuba yielded
him great fame among the populace.
"Only those who
know about journalism, and of the high costs of disinterest, can
really reckon the energy, tenacity, sacrifices, prudence, and
force of character that reveal the apparition of a free and honest
newspaper".
With these words, José
Martí defines what for him should be the ethics and the
struggle of journalists. He argued further: "The newspaper
is a sword and its handle is reason. Alone they should use it
for the good, and should not be for the extermination of man,
but for the necessary triumph over those who are opposed to its
liberty and progress."
Seventeen of his 74
volumes of written works were dedicated to his life in the United
States. His speeches to the Cuban communities situated in different
cities of the United States in the 19th Century shed light on
his political views and philosophy. For his writings towards democracy
and justice, the NAHP Awards were named the José Martí
Publishing Awards.
About the NAHP
Founded in 1982, the National Association of Hispanic Publications
is the premier organization representing Hispanic print nationwide.
The mission of the NAHP is to promote Hispanic print, the most
effective medium to reach the Hispanic population. The NAHP strives
to continually inform and educate the Hispanic community on social
issues, educate the readership of its member publications, provide
technical assistance and to improve the quality of Hispanic publications
nationwide. For more information, please visit http://www.nahp.org
or call (202) 662-7250.
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CONTACT:
NAHP, Inc. & NHP Foundation
Armando Garcia
armando.garcia@hispanicpress.org |
