2009 National Ethnic Media Awards Winners

Education

Winner

"Finishing School is a Complicated Job"
Erika Cebreros, El Mensajero

Runner Up

"Are Hmong Schools Making the Grade?"
Wameng Moua, Hmong Today

Education

Winner: Erika Cebreros, "Finishing School is a Complicated Job," El Mensajero, (San Francisco, California)

As an education reporter for El Mensajero, Erika Cebreros often heard stories from Latino high school students about how difficult it was to balance work and school.

At first she thought they meant part-time jobs. But after probing further, she realized that many of them were working 30 hours a week or more, while attending high school full-time.

"I'd never seen anything written about that, and I thought it was a very interesting story that had to be told," she says.

Since education is so critical to their readers, her editor encouraged her to go deep into the story. Cebreros interviewed students, teachers and high school principals across the San Francisco Bay area.

"A lot of people think high school students work to buy the latest version of sneakers, or take their girlfriend or boyfriend to the movies," she says, "but the students I talked to worked to support their families."

Cebreros wondered how they were able to work such long hours in California, where minors under 18 are supposed to apply for work permits to be able to work part-time.

She learned that many work without permits simply because "many times both the young people and the employer don't even know work permits exist," she says. Also some "are undocumented, and when you apply for these work permits they ask for a Social Security number."

With the current economic downturn, Cebreros believes that even more students will be working, and many will be working even longer hours. And this will take an even bigger toll on their ability to stay in school.

One principal told her that most students dropped out of his school "because they needed to make money for their families." Cebreros says, "I think I need to do a follow up story on this."


« 2009 National Ethnic Media Awards Winners

Awards & Expo Photos
NAM Ethnic Media Expo Coverage
2009 Ethnic Media Awards Winners

Awards Winners »

Arts, Sports & Entertainment (English)

Arts, Sports & Entertainment (In-Language)

Best Blogger on Ethnic Perspectives

Best In-Depth/Investigative (English)

Best In-Depth/Investigative (In-Language)

Best Reporting on a Community Issue (Radio)

  • Teacher's Responsibilities vs. Survival Instincts
    Cindy Yip & Otis Fang, Sing Tao Radio

Best Reporting on a Community Issue (TV)

Commentary/Editorial (English)

Commentary/Editorial (In-Language)

Education

Environmental Issues

Ethnic Elders

Healthcare

International Affairs (English)

International Affairs (In-Language)

Photojournalism

Race and Interethnic Relations


NAM Ethnic Media Directory
Stay Connected
NAM Twitter
NAM on Twitter
NAM Facebook
NAM on Facebook
 
Testimonials

About NAM's First National Ethic Media Awards
Washington, D.C., 2006

Hillary Rodham Clinton

I want to congratulate the honorees who are receiving the equivalent of the “Pulitzer Prize.” Every generation brings so many voices to the debate. Ethnic media represent the way the new Washington needs to connect to the new America.

Len Downie, Executive Editor, Washington Post

I was very pleased that I could be at the awards ceremony. New America Media is a very significant journalistic organization and you are doing important work.

Michael Jack, VP of Diversity, NBC Network

Congratulations for pulling off such a successful event. It is not easy to do anything for the first time, but you managed to do just that. The well deserving recipients truly appreciated the acknowledgement.

Brant Houston, Executive Director, Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc.

Thanks for including us in this great project.

Lorena Hernandez, Bay Area Director of Communications, Comcast

Congratulations on the successful National Ethnic Media Events in DC!

Juliet K. Choi, National Partnership Development Senior Associate, American Red Cross

Congratulations on a beautiful inaugural Ethnic Media Awards – and kudos for getting Senator Clinton to show!

Julie H. Sun, Corporate Relations and Housing Outreach Manager, Freddie Mac

We were very happy to be engaged.

Pat Lawson Muse, Anchor, NBC4

Congratulations for pulling off such a successful event. Many of the stories that generated awards were so moving. The well de- serving recipients truly appreciated the acknowledgement.

Anna Lefer, U.S. Programs Program Officer, Open Society Institute

Congratulations on a hugely successful awards ceremony. After scanning the crowd of journalists and executives from ethnic and mainstream media, elected officials, international dignitaries and diplomats, and DC insiders, it is quite clear that NAM is a part of the political fabric down in DC.

Pam Larson, Executive Vice President, National Academy of Social Insurance

Being part of NAM’s gathering and associated events was a true honor and thrill for us! . . . You’ve got a real eye for the future -- and for making a better “present” for many people, too!

Ellen Hume, Senior Research Fellow, UMASS Boston

Congratulations to everyone. Our delegation just met here at UMASS Boston to recount how inspiring the NAM awards and work- shops were. Everyone is glowing.

Jon Funabiki, former deputy director of the Media, Arts and Culture with Ford Foundation

New America Media truly has changed the nation by bringing the power of ethnic news media into focus and making people take notice. NAM has changed the course of history.