Biography
Hugo Balta is an Adjunct Professor at Columbia College Chicago, where he teaches journalism courses that emphasize multimedia storytelling and the production of newscasts for broadcast television.Balta is currently the Executive Editor of the Fulcrum, a national cross-partisan news publication, engaging citizens in evolving government to better meet the needs of all people. He is also the Publisher of the Latino News Network. He oversees a group of independent local and national news multimedia websites, including Illinois Latino News, with an editorial focus on covering the social determinants of health and democracy.Balta is an award-winning news veteran whose experience includes leadership roles in NBC, MSNBC, Telemundo, CBS, ESPN, and ABC networks. He previously worked at the Chicago Reporter as Executive Editor, WBBM News Radio as Editor, and WTTW Chicago as News Director.Balta received the 2024 Cecilia Vaisman Award from Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism. He is the only person to serve twice as President of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). He was inducted into the organization's Hall of Fame in 2016.A B.A. graduate of Seton Hall University, Balta has completed Executive Leadership programs at Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism, and the University of Virginia, Darden School of Business. He is also an accredited Solutions Journalism Network trainer.
Instructional Areas
Broadcast Television/Radio News, Multimedia Journalism Content Production
Creative Practice and Research Interests
Multiplatform Digital Storytelling, Solutions Journalism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Independent News, Broadcast News
Degrees
B.A., Communication Seton Hall University 2010