| Maria Elena Salinas is not afraid to ask tough questions. She asked General Augusto Pinochet, ex-strong man of Chile, about the human rights violations under his regime. She asked ex-Panamanian dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega why he did not leave Panama before the American invasion. Yet, her soft side is seen when she is visibly touched when interviewing those suffering as a result of the decisions made by governments in Peru, Mexico, Cuba, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Chile, Argentina.
She co-anchors the Spanish-language newscast Noticiero Univision with Jorge Ramos. Millions of TV viewers in the United States and 13 Latin American countries watch them nightly.
Salinas, who has won several Emmy Awards for her work, was born in Los Angeles.
"In the early 1940s, my parents crossed the border - with all the proper immigration documents in hand - to start a new life in the United States," Salinas said. "My mother worked as a seamstress in the garment industry. My father worked as a professor, a real estate salesman and an accountant."
 Maria Elena Salinas and husban Eliott Rodriguez, also a TV journalist Courtesy Maria Elena Salinas |
Her parents are deceased.
"I'm Mexican-American, very Mexican since I put Tabasco sauce on everything, even pizza, and very American. My favorite delicacy is McDonald's french fries."
"I started working very young, at the age of 14, to help my parents and siblings," Salinas said. "We were very poor."
"My parents always encouraged us to improve ourselves through education," she said. "I graduated from a private high school. I paid the tuition with my job."
 Maria Elena Salinas with her daughters Gabriela Maria, 5, and Julia Alejandra, 8, Courtesy Maria Elena Salinas |
Salinas' 22-year journalism career began in radio. After two years, she moved to TV and became a reporter for Channel 34 in Los Angeles. In 1987 she became a news presenter for Noticiero Univision.
"At Channel 34, we had only two reporters," Salinas said. "We gathered and presented the news. I also had a talk show, and on weekends I had a musical program, Domingos Alegres."
"Then, there were only 14 million Hispanics in the United States and Los Angeles was 25 percent Hispanic and had no political representation."
Today Channel 34 has several newscasts throughout the day, employs 15 reporters, has its own helicopter and three live-cast trucks.
 Maria Elena Salinas uses the Big Ben as backdrop while reporting about the death of Princess Diana Courtesy Maria Elena Salinas |
Salinas now works from the Miami studios of Univision.
"I have been presenting the news for 15 years with Jorge Ramos. "This is a world of men. Once in a while, I have to remind people there are two co-anchors and that we are at the same level."
"Journalism in Spanish in the United States goes beyond general journalism," Salinas said. "One must be, to a certain extent, a social services provider, teaching members of the community how to defend themselves, how to find out about their rights, how to take advantage of available services, telling them how to start a business, what tools are needed to be successful."
In 1993, Salinas married Miami TV journalist Eliott Rodriguez. She says that Hurricane Andrews blew her future husband into her life.
 Maria Elena Salinas asked ex-Panamanian dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega why he did not leave Panama before the American invasion Courtesy Maria Elena Salinas |
"Eliott became my savior. He helped me clean out the debris from my house and move into a temporary apartment. He helped with my insurance nightmares," Salinas said. "Seven months later, Eliott and I were married in a beachside ceremony in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico."
Salinas would not encourage her daughters, Gabriela Maria, 5, and Julia Alejandra, 8, to become journalists. "If they decide they want to become journalists, I will tell them about the downside of the profession, and that it is not all about fame and travel. If they still want to become one, I will support them."
"I was brought up in a bilingual and bicultural household," Salinas said. "Although my father spoke six languages, my mother spoke only Spanish. Dad insisted on hearing only Spanish at home, but I grew up speaking English in school and with friends. Children can handle more than one language quite nicely - my sisters and I did - so I am raising my two daughters the same way."
"I do not have time for anything," she said. "I only have one hour a day to dedicate to my daughters. The weekend is theirs, though." Salinas has also two teen-ager stepdaughters.
"When I go home, I have to clear my head," Salinas said. "I listen to romantic music. If I really need to let off steam, I do it by calling my friends on my cell phone."
If she had not become a journalist, she would have been an activist because she is aware of the needs of the Hispanic community in the United States, Salinas said. She also said she believes that the latinization of the United States is inevitable.
"The good thing about the latinization of the United States is that we are demonstrating our presence in a very positive way because we are integrating ourselves with the cultural life of this country. " Salinas said. "In almost every industry, there is Hispanic influence."
"It cannot be resisted - although there are anti-immigrants and anti-Latinos - because there are so many of us and we have a buying power that surpassed the $580 billion mark in 2002," Salinas said. "The publicists have to do something to attract Latinos. Therefore, they are going to create Latino products and make ads that attract Latinos. They cannot ignore the presence of 35 million persons."
Salinas writes a syndicated column every week, distributed by King Features. Salinas says that she focuses on issues affecting Hispanics because her column is about the Americas and because she says she feels a responsibility and a strong commitment to her community.
"I have been around long enough to understand the issues that affect us. I believe there are many misconceptions about immigrants, both legal and illegal."
Salinas founded the Maria Elena Salinas' Excellence of Journalism in Spanish Scholarship. The program grants $10,000 annually, and the opportunity to work in the Univision network, to outstanding students.
For more information about this scholarship, call the National Association of Hispanic Journalists at 888-346-NAHJ (6245) or visit their website www.nahj.org. |
