Journalist of the Year honoree Acevedo ‘proud of the work that we’re doing together’

---

On Sept. 24, the same day that journalist Enrique Acevedo became a U.S. citizen, the News Literacy Project presented him with its ­John S. Carroll Journalist of the Year Award.

Acevedo, who was born in Mexico, is the co-anchor of Univision’s Noticiero Univision Edición Nocturna, the network’s late-night news program. He has been involved with NLP since 2017 — most recently at a NewsLitCamp^® in April at Univision, where he led a workshop for educators on identifying bias in the news. He is also the host of the first Checkology^® virtual classroom lesson offered in English and Spanish, “Practicing Quality Journalism”/ “Practicando el periodismo de calidad.” This game-like simulation lets students assume the role of a rookie reporter covering a breaking news event and is one of the most popular on the platform.

“I’m extremely proud of the work that we’re doing together. I’m grateful that you had the vision to record this lesson in Spanish and to reach a larger audience,” Acevedo said. “NLP is on the front lines on the war on truth and is helping this young audience understand their responsibility, both as consumers and producers.”

Award namesake

The John S. Carroll Journalist of the Year Award — named for one of the most revered newspaper editors of his generation — goes to journalists who have contributed significantly to NLP and its mission. A committee of NLP board members and staff select the honorees, who receive a glass plaque with an etched photo of Carroll and $500. During an acclaimed career spanning four decades, Carroll was the editor of three major U.S. newspapers — the Lexington (Kentucky) Herald-Leader, The Baltimore Sun and the Los Angeles Times. He was one of NLP’s first two board members and served as board chair until shortly before his death in 2015.

Alberto Ibargüen, president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and Jennifer Preston, the foundation’s vice president for journalism, joined Acevedo’s wife, journalist Florentina Romo, and Univision anchor Jorge Ramos at the award luncheon in Miami. Knight Foundation is NLP’s largest funder.

“With Alberto’s and Jennifer’s and Knight’s generous support and the help of outstanding journalists like Enrique, we’ve now reached well over 100,000 students, and we believe we’re on our way to reaching millions. John would be extremely proud,” said Alan C. Miller, NLP’s founder and CEO.

Student appreciation for Acevedo

While the award recognizes the significant role of journalists in our democracy, the program did have its lighter moments. Miller couldn’t resist sharing some of the particularly enthusiastic feedback from students who had completed the Checkology lesson Acevedo hosts:

• “It was really engaging and you kept on wanting to do more and more …  I think this is the best lesson EVER!”
• “Enrique was pretty sharp-looking. He was like a Spanish Mark Ruffalo.”
• “Enrique is an angel among us sent forth to help us understand what quality journalism is.”

“So, Enrique, for being an outstanding journalist — as well as a Spanish Mark Ruffalo and an NLP angel sent to help us teach the next generation how to be news-literate — we are delighted to present you with the John S. Carroll Journalist of the Year Award,” Miller said.