María Elena Salinas to Give Keynote Address During NAHJ’s Virtual Graduation Celebration

María Elena Salinas is hoping to inspire this year’s graduates…

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) will host a virtual graduation celebration on June 6 to commemorate the organization’s graduating college seniors, and the 65-year-old broadcast journalist, news anchor and author will give the keynote address.

Maria Elena Salinas

Following social distancing recommendations dictated by the CDC, graduations across the country to date have been altered, canceled, postponed or held virtually.

The nation’s largest association for Hispanic journalists will honor NAHJ member college graduates on Saturday, June 6 at 1:00 pm ET.  

Multiple commencement addresses will be given by industry leaders in the field to share advice and words of inspiration to the Class of 2020.

In addition to Salinas, who is considered the “Voice of Hispanic America,” students will also hear from Maria HinojosaJosé Díaz-BalartFin GómezRobert HernandezObed Manuel-EstradaJoy Diaz and more. 

“Our mission is to help the professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry,” said Alberto B. Mendoza, NAHJ Executive Director. “We focus heavily on our students and are committed to being there from the beginning of their careers. 


Young journalists play an essential role in the field. On June 6, NAHJ invites all community members to join and watch this memorable event.

Maria Elena Salinas Joins CBS News as a Contributor

Maria Elena Salinas is headed to The Eye Network

The 64-year-old Mexican American journalist, a longtime former Univision anchor, is joining CBS News as a contributor.

Maria Elena Salinas

Susan Zirinsky,CBS News President and senior executive producer, said Salinas will deliver reports for multiple broadcasts and platforms and will be a frequent presence in 2020 election coverage.

Salinas, called the “Voice of Hispanic America” by The New York Times, is best known for co-anchoring Univision’s flagship evening news program for more than 30 years. 

She has interviewed world leaders and covered a wide range of national and international events, netting multiple Emmys, a Peabody Awardand many others over the years. 

Since leaving Univision in 2017, she has hosted The Real Story with Maria Elena Salinas on Investigation Discoveryand covered the 2018 presidential election in Mexico for Telemundo.

“It is an honor to welcome Maria Elena Salinas to the CBS News team,” said Zirinsky. “We look forward to sharing her important voice and journalistic credentials with our audience in a critical time for this country.”

In 2016, Salinas reported for CBS Sunday Morningon the role Hispanics would play in that year’s election.

From 2001 to 2011, Salinas wrote a weekly syndicated column in both English and Spanish. She’s also the author of the 2006 autobiography, I Am My Father’s Daughter, Living a Life Without Secrets.

Salinas began her journalism career in 1981 as a reporter, anchor and public affairs host for KMEX-TVUnivision’s LA affiliate.