By Kaslyn Tidmore
Graduate Assistant at the Center for Media Ethics and Literacy
The Center for Media Ethics and Literacy will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month by hosting Jose “Pepe” Estrada, director of public affairs at Walmart, on campus Thursday, Sept. 26.
Students will hear valuable advice on building meaningful relationships with Hispanic communities and how to connect with key stakeholders effectively to foster trust and engagement.
“Pepe Estrada is the perfect guest for our students this month. He has deep experience in public affairs and outreach to Hispanic communities,” said Gina Shelton, interim director of the Center for Media Ethics and Literacy. “He will speak to two Public Relations Principles classes and bring timely advice to seniors preparing for careers.”
Shelton is also the director of the Lemke Journalism Project, founded in 2002 to get high school students interested in multicultural reporting. Many graduates of the project now study journalism at the U of A and will spend time with Estrada during a lunch co-sponsored by LJP and the campus chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
Estrada, a native of Peru, has a doctorate degree in agricultural economics from North Carolina State. His work at Walmart has focused on enterprise diversity initiatives and reputation management strategies. He has held many local leadership positions, including board chair of NWA Hispanic Leadership Council and board member of Latinas en Bici.
Anyone interested in attending the lunch with Estrada should RSVP with Kaslyn Tidmore at tidmore@uark.edu.
The Center for Media Ethics and Literacy was established to promote ethical practices and standards in journalism. Its mission is to provide resources, education, and support for journalists, students, educators and news consumers to foster integrity, accountability and transparency in the field. The center offers various programs aimed at enhancing literacy and ethical decision-making in journalism. It collaborates with professionals and organizations to address contemporary ethical and literacy issues in media.
The Lemke Journalism Project is an award-winning media training program held annually for high school students interested in multicultural reporting and diversity issues in Northwest Arkansas. Students produce podcasts, television news roundtables and a newspaper distributed with the Spanish-language La Prensa Libre.
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. Established in April 1984, NAHJ created a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists.