January 25, 2006

Contacts:

Contact:
Melanie Hall
Operations Manager
UNITY
(703) 854-3585
info@unityjournalists.org

UNITY Executive Director Resigns

McLean, Va. - UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc., announced today that its executive director, Anna Lopez, has resigned, effective April 1, 2006. Lopez has served as executive director since July 2003.

The Board of Directors accepted her resignation at a board meeting this week, and wishes to thank Lopez for her hard work on behalf of the organization. During her tenure as executive director, UNITY held its most successful conference ever in 2004, in Washington D.C. It was the largest gathering of journalists in history, with more than 8,000 journalists of color and others in attendance.

"UNITY's successes since 2003 have been due in large part to Anna's dedication and hard work," said UNITY President Mae Cheng. "We will miss her, and we wish her well."

Through its efforts in the areas of research and advocacy, UNITY has emerged as the nation's most respected resource on issues of diversity within the news media.

The board of directors appointed its executive committee to launch a nationwide search for a new executive director. Lopez has agreed to stay on with the organization during the search process.

Prior to joining UNITY, Lopez served for five years as the executive director of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, having joined the NAHJ staff in 1995. She was named one of the Hispanic Business 100 Most Influential Hispanics in 2004.

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About UNITY: Journalists of Color
UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc. is a strategic alliance advocating news coverage about people of color, and aggressively challenging its organizations at all levels to reflect the nation’s diversity. UNITY, representing more than 10,000 journalists of color, is comprised of four national associations: Asian American Journalists Association, National Association of Black Journalists, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and the Native American Journalists Association.

In addition to planning the largest regular gathering of journalists in the nation, UNITY develops programs and institutional relationships that promote its mission. For more information on UNITY, visit www.unityjournalists.org, email info@unityjournalists.org or call (703) 854-3585.