Washington, DC – On August 12 from 12:00 – 2:30 p.m. at the CNN Washington Bureau, 35 Latino interns from across the country and those working  in D.C. this summer will get an inside look at CNN and their journalistic styles, as well learn about the different career opportunities which exist in media.  The interns are members of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s (HHF) workforce development program LOFT (Latinos On Fast Track).  The CNN partnership is the latest effort in LOFT’s vertical industry series (other fields have included engineering, financial services, education, technology, green, public policy, and entertainment).

The interns will hear from a prestigious and informative panel consisting of:

• Wolf Blitzer, longtime CNN Correspondent and Anchor of The Situation Room;
• Jeanne Meserve, CNN homeland security correspondent;
• Willie Lora, CNN en Español Washington Bureau manager;
• Marcela Salazar, senior editorial producer for John King USA;
• Roger Hommel, senior editor producer;
• Gary Krakower, production designer, graphics;
• Khalil Abdallah, senior photojournalist;
• Ben Hill, director, Workplace Initiatives, CNN Human Resources.   

“We are pleased to welcome the LOFT students into the D.C. Bureau and actually expect to learn a lot from them,” said Johnita P. Due, Assistant General Counsel & Diversity Council chair.  “We hope that by sharing our experiences and skills we will help cultivate the next generation of journalists and bring them into the industry’s pipeline.”    

Beyond the workshop, HHF will provide the LOFT members with access to other vertical workshops, mentors, special events and leadership training, online webinars from experts in various fields, surveys, internships and full-time positions in an effort to prepare them for success in the workforce, advanced degrees and encouraging community service. 

“We are grateful to CNN for providing our emerging young professionals with not only insight into the media and journalism fields but a vision for opportunities in the industry and a tangible path,” said Jose Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of HHF.  “All our students are aware of CNN but may not be aware of the vast rewarding, long-term and fruitful careers in the field.  CNN is not only visionary as an industry leader but is also providing a vision to young leaders which will benefit the industry.”

Since 1987, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) has identified, prepared and positioned Latino leaders in the classroom, community and workforce through their year-round programs.  The model used by HHF for leadership funnels talented, motivated, inspirational and engaged Latino leaders from: high school, to college and grad school, to the workforce, and back into the community.  Visit www.HispanicHeritage.org for more information and please watch a brief video at http://hispanicheritage.org/multimedia.php?video=2007_YouthAwards_Kids.flv.

The LOFT program provides the young leaders with leadership training, mentors, educational grants, webinars from experts in various fields, networking events, online and social networking with other students and mentors, conferences/summits/workshops, fellowships and internships, and full-time positions with Fortune 500 companies and government agencies.  The LOFT Network is made up of tens of thousands of vetted Latino emerging professionals ranging in age from 18-25. The key to LOFT’s successful model is the delivery system which is tailored to the sponsors industry or field.