Carmen Osbahr-Vertiz’s Rosita to Participate in “Sesame Street” & CNN’s “Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism” Town Hall

Posted on June 3, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Carmen Osbahr-Vertiz is helping raise awareness on racism in America…

The 58-year-old Mexican puppeteer’s beloved Sesame Street character, Rosita, will be part of the long-running PBS series town hall addressing racism in partnership with CNN. The event comes in response to protests around the world after the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.

Big Bird will join CNN’s Van Jones and Erica Hill to moderate the Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism town hall, which will cover topics of racism, protesting, embracing diversity, and being more empathetic and understanding.

In addition to Rosita and Big Bird, Sesame Street’s Elmo and Abby Cadabby will join experts to answer questions from parents and children.

The 60-minute special will air on Saturday, June 6, at 10:00 am ET. The town hall will air on CNN, CNN International, and CNN en Español. It will also stream live on CNN.com and on the CNN app, without requiring a cable log-in.

Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on May 25 in Minneapolis after a white police officer kneeled into his neck for nearly 9 minutes. The incident was caught on video by multiple bystanders and released across social media, leading to an intense response from residents in cities across the U.S., as well as other countries, calling for justice and an end to police brutality against black people.

Osbahr-Vertiz’s Rosita is a 5-year-old turquoise Hispanic female monster Muppet character on the children’s television series. Fluent in English and Spanish, she’s the first regular bilingual Muppet on the show. Osbahr-Vertiz has voiced Rosita since 1991.

Sesame Street and the news network also combined forces in May for a town hall discussing COVID-19.

To help combat systemic racism, please consider donating to these organizations:

Campaign Zero, which is dedicated to ending police brutality in America through research-based strategies.
Color of Change, which works to move decision makers in corporations and government to be more responsive to racial disparities.
Equal Justice Initiative, which provides legal services to people who have been wrongly convicted, denied a fair trial, or abused in state jails and prisons.

CNN and Sesame Street are doing a special town hall for young kids and families who have questions about racism and where our nation is right now. https://t.co/g58MwSP1bE
— anika palm (@ampalm) June 2, 2020

Becky G to be Honored at the Latin Recording Academy’s Leading Ladies of Entertainment Luncheon

Posted on November 10, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Becky G is a (leading) lady who lunches…

For the second consecutive year, the Latin Recording Academy will host its Leading Ladies of Entertainment luncheon, honoring professional women within arts and entertainment who have made significant contributions to their fields, including the 21-year-old Mexican American singer/songwriter/actress.

In addition to Becky G, this year’s honorees include Univision journalist and anchor Pamela Silva Conde; BMI’s VP of Creative for Latin music, Delia Orjuela; and Cynthia Hudson EVP and GM of CNN en Español and Hispanic Strategy for CNN/US.

“With great pride and admiration we laud these honorees who throughout their careers have continually demonstrated grit, determination, an absolute sense of pride, and an indomitable spirit,” said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., president/CEO of the Latin Recording Academy.

The Leading Ladies of Entertainment program launched last year with a similar lunch in Las Vegas, honoring executives like Lionfish Entertainment founder Rebeca Leon (who manages Juanes, Rosalía and J Balvin), Warner Music Latina GM Gabriela Martinez and Billboard’s executive director of Latin content and programming Leila Cobo.

The event was a rare honor designed specifically for women involved in Latin music and entertainment.

Santana to Appear at This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Conference

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Santana is ready to talk about his supernatural career…

The 61-year-old Mexican musician has been added to the list of speakers at the 2015 Billboard Latin Music Conference.

Santana, a multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy winner, will have a one-on-one conversation with Billboard’s Leila Cobo on Wednesday, April 29 as they discuss his 40-plus years in music.

The open Q&A session will give the audience a chance to get up close and personal with the legendary guitarist and relive his journey — from his humble beginnings in Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco, Mexico, to his teenage years in the Mission District of San Francisco, to selling out arenas worldwide, reaching more than 100 millions fans.

“One of the great guitarists, Carlos’ style is so identifiable and relevant to pop culture; his influence is seen in varying music genres worldwide,” says Cobo. “There is no better way to end the Billboard Latin Music Conference and kick off the Awards than with this incomparable artist.”

The ‘Legends’ session is the culmination of the 26th annual Billboard Latin Music Conference and Awards, running from April 27 to 30 at The Ritz-Carlton South Beach in Miami.

CNN en Español host Ismael Cala will deliver the opening keynote of the three-day conference, while bachata king Romeo Santos will participate in an exclusive Q&A. Additional panels and sessions will feature some of Latin music’s biggest names, including J Balvin, Ivy Queen, Luis Coronel, Nicky Jam, Kevin Ortiz and Jorge Valenzuela.

Cala to Give Keynote Address at the Billboard Latin Music Conference

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Ismael Cala is turning up the power…

The 45-year-old Cuban journalist, producer and television presenter will give the opening keynote address at the 2015 Billboard Latin Music Conference.

Cala, the host of the CNN en Español show Cala will speak on “Turning the Power of Listening into Profit” on Tuesday April 28 at the Ritz-Carlton Miami Beach, as part of the annual Latin music business event.

A celebrated figure in the Latin industry, Cala is the face of one of the top rated shows in Latin programming, an intimate platform in which he sits down and discusses the lives and careers of politicians, writers, philosophers, artists, celebrities, and other notable international figures.

At the Billboard Latin Music Conference, Cala will speak about the inspiration that makes for successful business enterprises through his own personal experiences, as well as lessons he’s learned through years of interviewing and working alongside some of the world’s most successful people.

Cala was born in Santiago de Cuba, and holds a degree in Art History from the Universidad de Oriente. He graduated with honors from the school of communications at the University of York in Toronto, Canada where he received a degree in Television Production.

Vera’s Syndicated Show “Right This Minute” Expanding to 182 Stations

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Christian Vera’s national reach is growing right this minute…

Syndicated talk show RightThisMinute, featuring the Mexican television personality as one of its hosts, has expanded its clearance to 91 percent of the country, thanks to new station carriage with Fox stations in Top 10 markets.

Syndicated by MGM Television and produced by MagicDust Television, in partnership with Cox Media Group, Raycom Media and E.W. Scripps, the show will launch season two in a five-day-a-week strip on September 8, and also supply a weekend best-of show to 182 stations.

RightThisMinute shows fast-rising web videos and reports the stories behind those videos in two daily half-hour shows. It rolled out nationally in its third season last year, after two years with coverage of only about 30 percent of the country that jumped to 65 percent last year. The Fox deal will air the show in late morning and afternoon time periods in the top 10 markets.

“A show designed for active viewers who want to stay informed. It is a fast-paced roundup of the most timely, engaging, and explosive stories; as well as, the stories that viewers determine are of most interest,” says Vera of the show. “The most-incredible video, the stories that make people stop and think, compelling human-condition stories, and the next day’s popular ‘water cooler’ stories will be covered in every ‘RightThisMinute’ episode.”

“RightThisMinute has found solid footing in the marketplace and demand has exceeded our expectations,”said Bryan.” The series fills a void with its unique and buzz-worthy content and we look forward to another successful season.”

In addition to Vera, who previously appeared on E! News Now, Mun2, SiTv and CNN En Español, the show featuresBeth Troutman, Nick Calderone, Gayle Bass and new host Oli Pettigrew.

Machado Headed to CNN as a Correspondent

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Alina Machado will soon be reporting for CNN…

The Latina television reporter at Atlanta’s WSB-TV has joined the network as a correspondent.

Machado will report for CNN, CNN en Español and CNN Latino, and will be based in Atlanta, according to the network.

Machado previously worked at WTVD, the ABC station in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina before joining WSB, the ABC affiliate in Atlanta. She has also worked as a bilingual anchor and correspondent for WDJT-WYTU, the CBS and Telemundo affiliates in Milwaukee.

In addition, CNN announced the official hiring of George Howell, who has been freelancing for the network since 2011.

“George and Alina are multi-talented, and their passion for getting to the crux of the story comes through in their award-winning journalism,” EVP and managing director of CNN International Tony Maddox said in a statement.

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