Our chapter election is here! We have an enthusiastic group of candidates working in a wide range of media outlets around the city. You will notice several familiar faces. Cast your vote by the close of business this Friday, August 26th by emailing nahjdc@gmail.com
Melissa Macaya – President
Producer at CNN en Español
Melissa Macaya is a bilingual multimedia journalist who is passionate about covering political and international issues especially focused on Latin America and the U.S. Hispanic community. Born and raised in Venezuela, Melissa has gained journalism experience on the local, national and international level. She currently serves as a producer for CNN en Español where she produces content for two shows and across digital platforms. Prior to CNN, Melissa was a fellow at NBC News in their Washington bureau and worked with Univision locally in Texas. She completed a Master’s degree from Georgetown University in International and Political journalism. Melissa loves to travel and has worked and lived in 5 countries: Venezuela, Spain, Mexico, Argentina and the United States.
Patricia Guadalupe – Vice President
Bilingual multimedia journalist
Raised in Puerto Rico, Patricia Guadalupe is a bilingual multimedia journalist based in Washington, D.C. She has been covering the capital for both English and Spanish-language media outlets since the mid- 1990s. She previously worked as a reporter in New York City. She’s been an editor at Hispanic Link News Service (where she still writes political news), a reporter at WTOP Radio (CBS Washington affiliate), a contributing reporter for CBS Radio network, and has written for NBC News.com and Latino Magazine, among others. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and has a Master’s degree from the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University. She specializes in business news, politics and cultural issues, and also freelances as a translator/interpreter.
Iscar Blanco – Vice President
Spanish Service Chief at the Voice of America
As Service Chief, Mr. Blanco oversees all platforms, including social media, to the Spanish speaking countries of the Americas. He is also responsible for determining content for the social media accounts as well as developing website’s new initiatives.
His commitment in modern journalism has taken him to obtain special courses to cover different political, economic and social events in different countries. Iscar obtained his degree in Sociology at the Florida International University, and a Masters in Journalism at the University of Miami. With a strong editorial background, Iscar worked as a reporter, producer and presenter for CNN and BBC.
He believes in the power of information and the new technology, believes in Freedom of Press and how to help democracy using social media tools.
Aileen Schlef – Secretary
Freelance reporter for Hispanic Link News Service and LATINO
Aileen Schlef established Creative Alliance Communications (CAC) following more than 20 years of executive experience in corporate, government, university and community settings. Aileen has also has chronicled Latino life since the 1970s launch of La Luz Magazine, Hispanic, Nuestro, LatinaStyle, among others. She is currently a freelance reporter for Hispanic Link News Service and LATINO. She was a founding member of the pioneering National Latino Media Coalition in the 1970s and headed the Latino Media Task Force of Washington, DC.An active member of the National Press Club (NPC), Aileen was honored with Vivian Awards in 2011 and 2013.
Beatriz Pascual– Treasurer
Foreign correspondent at EFE
Beatriz Pascual is a multimedia journalist with five years of experience in the media industry. Born and raised in Spain, she crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 2014 and arrived in Washington with a Training Scholarship program sponsored by EFE, the leading Spanish-language news agency and the fourth largest news agency in the world. Now, working as a foreign correspondent in EFE, she covers Justice, National Security and Immigration news. Defined as multitask-er, she likes to portray the different angles of reality in different formats: written stories, photographs, video and radio pieces.
Ed O’Keefe – At-Large Member
Politics reporter at the Washington Post
Ed O’Keefe is covering the 2016 presidential campaign, a journey that’s included a focus on Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio’s campaigns, the Republican delegate fight and the growing influence of Hispanic voters. He’s covered presidential and congressional politics since 2008. Off the trail, he’s covered Capitol Hill, federal agencies, the federal workforce, and spent a brief time covering the war in Iraq.
NAHJ DC 