Honoring 100 years of La Opiníon, Monica Lozano keynote at DJA
Monica Lozano
As part of the Distinguished Journalists Awards Banquet this year SPJ/LA is celebrating the 100th anniversary of La Opinión, the country’s leading Spanish language daily newspaper. Our keynote speaker will be Monica Lozano, who was editor, publisher and CEO of the newspaper her grandfather founded.
Monica C. Lozano is a seasoned executive serving in leadership roles across media, philanthropy, and the non-profit sectors. Lozano’s media career began in 1985 when she joined La Opinión, the country’s leading Spanish language daily newspaper founded in 1926 by her grandfather.
During her time at La Opinión she served as Editor, Publisher and Chief Executive, and in 2010 she was named CEO of the parent company, ImpreMedia, leading ImpreMedia’s transformation from a newspaper company to a multi-platform content company serving Latinos across the country.
After leaving ImpreMedia, she co-founded the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society program to leverage the Institute’s prestigious brand to change the narrative about American Latinos. Between 2017-2022 she led College Futures Foundation, a California-based philanthropy committed to closing equity gaps in California’s institutions of higher education. In 2024, she returned to her passion and co-founded The LA Local, a nonprofit local news provider that is free, independent, and rooted in the needs and experiences of Angelenos.
The concept was developed through several years of collaboration among philanthropic, civic, journalism, and community leaders who recognized the need for a new model of local news for Los Angeles. Officially launched in January 2026, the organization combines professional journalism with community engagement, employing experienced reporters and operating innovative youth journalism and civic programs.
The LA Local is led by CEO Michele Siqueiros, Executive Editor Kristen Muller, and a dedicated team of more than 30. Lozano serves as Chair of the Board of The LA Local.
We invite everyone to join us for this night of celebration and reflection on the long history of journalism and community in the Greater Los Angeles region.
Read more about all of our honorees:
Honorees are Christine Devine, news anchor, FOX 11; Mariel Garza, co-founder and executive editor of Golden State; Mina Kimes, ESPN; Larry Wilson, Southern California News Group; Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, founder of Voice Media Ventures and publisher of Black Voice News; and Gary Kohatsu, editor of Gardena Valley News and Culver City News.
Ann Burroughs, President and CEO of the Japanese American National Museum and its National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, will receive the chapter’s Freedom of Information Award.
