El Perico staff members Karlha Velasquez (left) and Bridget Fogarty (right) smile together on December 8. Photo by Chris Bowling.

The National Association of Hispanic Publications, or NAHP, recognized El Perico, Omaha’s alternative monthly and online Spanish and English-language newspaper, for its reporting on language accessibility in Omaha.

Bridget Fogarty, who joined El Perico through the Report for America program, received three José Martí Awards for her story El reto contra las barreras lingüísticas de Omaha, or Tackling Omaha’s Language Barriers. NAHP honored the story for its outstanding local business, community service, and cultural coverage:

  • Silver Award, Outstanding Local Business Article — “El reto contra las barreras lingüísticas de Omaha,” or “Tackling Omaha’s Language Barriers” by Bridget Fogarty
  • Silver Award, Outstanding Community Service Article — “El reto contra las barreras lingüísticas de Omaha,” or “Tackling Omaha’s Language Barriers” by Bridget Fogarty
  • Silver Award, Outstanding Cultural Article — “El reto contra las barreras lingüísticas de Omaha,” or “Tackling Omaha’s Language Barriers” by Bridget Fogarty
Leah N. Whitney Chavez is the Executive Director and Founder of World Speaks, a nonprofit working to make translations and interpretation services more accessible in Omaha. Photo provided by Leah Whitney Chavez.
Melanie Coronado Amaya, a student featured in the award-winning story, smiles outside of the Latino Center of the Midlands in July 2021. Photo by Bridget Fogarty

El Perico leaders John Heaston and Karlha Velasquez attended the NAHP conference in Denver and accepted the honors. You can read the full award-winning story, which first published in our August 2021 issue, in English and Spanish on El Perico’s website. The article shows how the city’s lack of translation and interpreting services leaves people out of accessing crucial resources.

NAHP’s José Martí Awards are the longest running publishing awards recognizing the best of Spanish language media and publishing nationally. NAHP is a nonpartisan trade advocacy organization that represents Spanish language publications in 39 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The combined circulation of its members is more than 23 million.

“These awards honor the editors, publishers, photographers, designers and marketing professionals who continue to use the POWER of the written word, impactful photos and illustrations, and creative design to reach, impact and motivate readers across the USA and beyond,” according to the NAHP.

Contact the writer at bridget@el-perico.com.

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