UPFRONT
LE ADERSHIP // BY RHONDA CROWDER
Spreading the Word Roselyn Muñiz is leading the charge to recognize and unite Hispanic journalists in Cleveland.
T
his year, the Greater Cleveland Association of Hispanic Journalists celebrates its first anniversary. There’s a need for more Latino representation in the media, and Roselyn Muñiz — also known as Rosie — has made it her mission to be a guiding light for Hispanic journalists in Cleveland. Born and raised on the West Side of Cleveland, Muñiz is the youngest of five children. Her dad is Puerto Rican and her mom a native of the Dominican Republic. She grew up learning English at school and speaking Spanish at home. Her father, Felix Muñiz, the pastor of New Light Community Church of the Nazarene, has always been active in the community with the Fatherhood Initiative and Nueva Luz Resource Center. He also stayed up on current events and incorporated them into his sermons. “We grew up in my house doing two things: going to church and watching the news,” Muñiz says. At the same time, she didn’t see her community represented on TV. “I noticed a gap,” she adds. “There weren’t a lot of people in the profession who looked like me.”
10 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022
COURTESY GREATER CLEVELAND ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC JOURNALISTS
Power of Journalism Her first real-life encounter with journalism came at age 10 when she attended the Hispanic Youth Center, where her father served as executive director. Through a competition determined by the loudest applause, she won an opportunity to interview a then Cleveland Indians baseball player for the Oscar de Amiga Show, and her interview aired at a game. Then, as a 17-year-old student at John Marshall High School, she thought topics such as health education and safe sex
should be taught in school, but the teachers were hesitant to present them. However, her participation in the Teens Talking to Teens program at the Hispanic Youth Center gave her an opportunity to write about and discuss the importance of teens knowing about sex education and having sex education in school. Subsequently, a reporter at The Roselyn Muñiz explains NAHJ Greater Cleveland’s Plain Dealer got wind of mission to guests at the chapter’s first-year her writings and wanted to anniversary party. interview her. producer. She loves working on the show “I was so surprised but was able to com- because it subscribes to a brand of reportmunicate my points to her,” Muñiz re- ing she calls “advocacy journalism.” calls. “That’s when I realized the power Last year, Muñiz went full time in comjournalism has. … You are connected with munity outreach with the station, workpeople who may never know you other- ing as Bernstein’s assistant when not prowise. I thought it was a powerful tool, and ducing We the People. I wanted to take advantage of it.” Bernstein says Muñiz’s impact in this Muñiz attended the University of Tole- role is already evident. “Rosie is doing do with a dual major in economics and things that haven’t been [done] before at communications. Then, she obtained a WKYC and in Cleveland. I really admire master’s degree in journalism from Co- her,” she says. lumbia Journalism School in New York Knowing Hispanics account for 11% City. She returned to Cleveland upon of media professionals, Muñiz is leadgraduation and secured a position at ing the charge in establishing a Greater WKYC Studios. She’s been there for sev- Cleveland chapter of the National Assoen years, starting as a production assis- ciation of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). tant, then working her way up to asso- It started with 10 members, the number ciate producer on Good Company and necessary to initiate a charter. Everyone Live on Lakeside. agreed, by vote, that Muñiz should be After The Plain Dealer’s former report- the founding president. er Margaret Bernstein joined WKYC as “It always takes one person to rise to director of advocacy and community ini- the occasion to lead something,” says tiatives, the station’s general manager cre- Myra Rosario, president of Latino Cleveated We the People, a call to action show land Media and social influencer within to encourage people to do something im- the Hispanic community. “Roselyn was pactful. Muñiz became the associate the perfect person to do it.”
