Telemundo Chicago’s Iris Berríos, NBC Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern, and Latino News Network’s Hugo Balta — who teaches at Columbia — join forces to talk elections and issues surrounding getting out the LatinX vote. 

In March, NBCU Academy and “The Columbia Chronicle” hosted a panel discussion for Columbia College Chicago students about engaging LatinX voters in the 2024 election. The panelists included NBC Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern, Telemundo Chicago’s Iris Berríos, and Latino News Network’s Hugo Balta. Balta, who moderated the discussion, is also an adjunct professor at Columbia. Topics included what engages the LatinX community in elections as well as the barriers to engagement, avenues to better understand and reach the LatinX electorate, topics that resonate most with LatinX voters, and resources for credible information about issues and candidates.  

 Audience members were given the opportunity to ask questions, giving the panelists the opportunity to offer their advice regarding voting. Both Ahern and Berríos stressed the importance of going to the voting booth informed. “Take your time to know what’s what,” Berríos said. “And go vote.” 

The event , which was held at Columbia, was made possible thanks to Columbia College Chicago’s partnership with NBCU Academy, an innovative, multiplatform student journalism and media technology development program that supports both scholarships and educational offerings for Columbia students.  

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