Immigrant of the Day: Maria Hinojosa (Mexico)

Maria Hinojosa (born 1961 in Mexico City) is a journalist. Her first journalism experience was as host of a Latino radio show as a student at Barnard College, where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Latin American studies.

In 1995, Hinojosa began hosting the National Public Radio show Latino USA, which she still hosts. (For her NPR bio, click here.)  She hosted the WNBC-TV public affairs show Visiones before joining CNN in 1997, where she worked for the New York City bureau for eight years and became known for reporting urban issues.

Hinojosa has won many honors and awards, including being named one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics by Hispanic Business magazine, the Robert F. Kennedy award, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ Radio Award, the New York Society of Professional Journalists Deadline Award, the National Council of La Raza’s Ruben Salazar Communications Award, and an Associated Press award.

Hinojosa has published two books, Raising Raul: Adventures Raising Myself and My Son and Crews: Gang Members Talk with Maria Hinojosa.

Hinojosa resides in New York City with her husband and their son and daughter.

KJ