Announcing the winners of the 2025 NJ Ethnic and Community Media Awards
By Anthony Advincula and Joe Amditis
Despite challenging winter weather conditions that blanketed the state in snow and ice the night before, we were thrilled to welcome a nearly full house of journalists, community leaders, and elected officials to the 2025 New Jersey Ethnic and Community Media Celebration & Awards on Feb. 6 at The College of New Jersey.
Hosted by the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University, the luncheon ceremony honored journalists and news outlets reporting in more than 20 languages for their outstanding contributions to local journalism and their vital work for the state’s diverse communities.
“It’s inspiring to see a room filled with people united by a common purpose: highlighting the importance of the ethnic and community media sector in New Jersey,” said Stefanie Murray, executive director of the Center.
“Supporting journalists and publishers is central to our mission,” Murray continued. “We work diligently to grow and strengthen local journalism in New Jersey and beyond, with a focus on diversity and equity. We are grateful for your partnerships and collaborations and for your ongoing support in elevating the invaluable role of diverse local and community news.”
Dr. Patricia Campos-Medina, educator, political leader, and executive director at The Worker Institute at ILR — Cornell University, delivered the keynote address, and Mazin Sidahmed, co-founder and co-executive director of Documented NY, participated in a fireside chat at the event.
“Today’s role of ethnic media is more critical than ever. Choosing to remain silent out of fear is not an option. We must continue to fight for our democracy and serve our communities,” said Campos-Medina. “We have entered a period [of authoritarianism] and it is very real. We can’t prevent it, we can just fight it.”
U.S. Senators Andy Kim and Cory Booker also delivered remarks to the attendees via video messages.
“Some of New Jersey’s ethnic news outlets have been in operation for over 100 years and are among the oldest publications in the U.S.,” said Cassandra Etienne, associate director of programming and membership at the Center. “The Center has made it a priority to support these news organizations in any way we can. We have provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding for ethnic and community media through reporting fellowships, translation services, journalism memberships, training, and press briefings.”
This year, more than 10 finalists were named for three major awards: the Ethnic and Community Lifetime Award, the Ethnic and Community Media Champion Award, and the Ethnic and Community Media Leadership Award.
And the winners are —
🏆 The Lifetime Award
The Lifetime Award honors an outstanding ethnic and community news outlet that has significantly contributed to its community and played a pivotal role in advancing community engagement and development over many years.
Awarded to Luso Americano, the Portuguese American newspaper that has been continuously publishing in New Jersey since 1928. Publisher Antonio Matinho accepted the award alongside his wife Natalie and son Paul, who serves as managing editor.
🏆 The Leadership Award
The Leadership Award recognizes a local journalist who elevates the voices of people in their community, using their platforms to advance underserved, under-resourced, and underheard residents.
Awarded to Kleibeel Marcano, editor-in-chief of Reporte Hispano, for his dedication to providing Spanish-speaking communities with vital information about health, immigration, housing, education, and social issues.
🏆 The Champion Award
The Champion Award recognizes an ethnic and community news outlet or organization demonstrating values and commitment to informing, educating, and building community through local journalism.
Awarded to Atlantic City Focus for its work amplifying African American voices and providing news that helps combat social challenges in Atlantic City. Founder and editor Mark Tyler accepted the award.
📸 Check out the photos from the event!
We would also like to extend special thanks to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Democracy Fund for their support of the Center and this event. And thank you to all who braved the winter weather to celebrate the outstanding contributions of New Jersey’s ethnic and community media.
The Center remains committed to supporting these essential news organizations as they inform and strengthen communities across our state. We look forward to continuing this important work together in the years ahead.
Joe Amditis is the assistant director of operations at the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University. Contact him at amditisj@montclair.edu or on Twitter at @jsamditis.
About the Center for Cooperative Media: The Center is a primarily grant-funded program of the School of Communication and Media at Montclair State University. Its mission is to grow and strengthen local journalism and support an informed society in New Jersey and beyond. The Center is supported with funding from Montclair State University, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Democracy Fund, the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium, the Independence Public Media Foundation, Rita Allen Foundation, Inasmuch Foundation and John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. For more information, visit centerforcooperativemedia.org.
