DPMHS Student Media staff members attended the Nick Beck Investigative Journalism Series on “Intergenerational Conversations on Issues Facing Latinos Today,” which featured Jorge and Paola Ramos, held at Los Angeles City College (LACC.)

“Los Angeles saved me,” said journalist Jorge Ramos, who emigrated from Mexico to California seeking press freedoms. “When coming to the states, I carried my life in a bag and my hands.” 

During this hour-long discussion, attendees had the opportunity to learn more about renowned Mexican broadcast journalist Jorge Ramos and his daughter, journalist Paola Ramos. As a journalist for around 40 years, Jorge Ramos reflected on his decades-long career, spanning from his immigration to the United States to his interviews with political figures, including former Cuban President Fidel Castro. While recollecting past interviews with politicians that included discriminatory remarks, such as when President Donald Trump stated to “go back to Univision,” Jorge was in complete shock. He grew fearful for the future of journalism.  

“This is dangerous for journalism and the First Amendment,” Jorge Ramos said. “I think my job as a reporter was simply to confront those who are in power and ask tough questions.”  

With the event progressing, Paola Ramos explained how, as time continued, the Latino community had shifted. Decades ago, there was a very tight-knit community of Latinos who were bound together by the similarity of their journey immigrating to the States. But as time went on, the Latino community continued to expand in the United States and the majority of young Latinos predominantly spoke English rather than Spanish. 

“There was a Latino community that was really united around this origin story, the immigrant story,” said author of “Finding Latinx: In Search of the Voices Redefining Latino Identity,” Paola Ramos. “There’s a certain distance now from that original immigrant story, which complicated everything.”