Four students from American University School of Communication’s (AU SOC) newly formed National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) chapter are attending this year’s NAHJ convention July 18-21 in Miami where they will be joined by SOC professor and chapter advisor Bill Gentile.

The convention features training sessions and workshops led by journalists of color. The students, Krystal Campos, Elizabeth Lizama, Kristian Hernandez, and Laura Romero, will have the opportunity to attend training sessions covering topics ranging from freelance work to the future of innovation. There is also a career expo where participants get to network with recruiters.

Students will also have the opportunity to connect with SOC alumni, including NAHJ National President Brandon Benavides, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, who graduated from SOC’s MA in Journalism and Public Affairs program. Executive producer of Good Morning San Antonio at KSAT12 (ABC), Benavides was the president of the NAHJ Washington D.C. chapter for four years where he created members monthly activities, an annual fundraiser called “Noche de Periodistas,” and a joint job fair with the D.C. chapter presidents of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJH), the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA), the Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ), and more.

Gentile says that the AU NAHJ chapter is excited to welcome new members this fall and help Hispanic and Latino journalists sharpen their skills and create media that matters.