Journalist Maria Hinojosa, host of National Public Radio’s weekly radio program Latino USA, will visit the University of Oregon on Oct. 5 as this year’s Cressman Lecturer in the Humanities.

Hinojosa will kick off the Oregon Humanities Center’s 2017–18 lecture series on the theme “We the People: Exploring a Diversity of Perspectives on What It Means To Be American.” Her talk, “From the Front Lines: A Conversation with Maria Hinojosa,” will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Room 156, Straub Hall.

The event is free and open to the public and will be live streamed at ohc.uoregon.edu. An interview with Hinojosa that appeared on UO Today can be viewed online.

The first Latina reporter to be hired by NPR, Hinojosa helped launch Latino USA, one of the earliest public radio programs devoted to the Latino community. She has anchored the show for its entire 22-year run, and since 2000 she also has been the program’s executive producer.

In 2010, she became the founder, president and CEO of Futuro Media Group, an independent nonprofit organization producing multimedia journalism that explores and gives a critical voice to the diversity of the American experience. She is also the anchor and executive producer of the Public Broadcasting Service show “America By the Numbers with Maria Hinojosa,” through which she has informed millions about the changing cultural and political landscape in America and abroad.  

In her nearly 30 years as a journalist, Hinojosa has worked for CNN, PBS, CBS, WNBC and WGBH. Her previous projects include the PBS “Need to Know” series and the WGBH/La Plaza program “Maria Hinojosa: One-on-One,” a talk show featuring interviews with diverse guests, including actors, writers, activists and politicians.

She served for five years as a senior correspondent for “Now” on PBS. Additionally, Hinojosa was the first Latina to anchor a PBS Frontline report. “Lost in Detention” aired in October 2011 and explored abuse at immigrant detention facilities, garnering attention on Capitol Hill from both the mainstream and Spanish-language media.

Hinojosa says that throughout her career she has been drawn to the mission of public media and its power to give voice to the diversity of opinions that represent the complexity of the country. She says her goal as a journalist is to share America’s untold stories and to highlight today’s critical issues in a responsible and respectful manner.

Hinojosa has won numerous awards for her work, including four Emmys, the 2012 John Chancellor Award for Excellence in Journalism, the Robert F. Kennedy Award for Reporting on the Disadvantaged, and the Edward R. Murrow Award from the Overseas Press Club for best documentary for her groundbreaking “Child Brides: Stolen Lives.” In addition to broadcast work, Hinojosa has been a syndicated columnist and is the author of two books.

For disability accommodations, which must be made by Sept. 28, contact ohc@uoregon.edu or call 541-346-3934.