City of Philadelphia - File #: 120927

• File #: 120927
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 11/15/2012
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 11/15/2012
• Title: Recognizing and honoring Philadelphia's leading Spanish-language Newspaper, Al Dia, on the occasion of its 20th Anniversary Gala and the publication of its first book, "200 Years of Latino History in Philadelphia."
• Sponsors: Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Tasco, Councilmember Green, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember O'Brien, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember Kenney

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
11/15/2012	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar	Pass
11/15/2012	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED

Title
Recognizing and honoring Philadelphia's leading Spanish-language Newspaper, Al Dia, on the occasion of its 20th Anniversary Gala and the publication of its first book, "200 Years of Latino History in Philadelphia."
Body
WHEREAS, Al Dia was founded in 1992 by Hernan Guaracao, a journalist who was told he was overqualified to work in the existing community newspapers; and

WHEREAS, Being compelled to create his own opportunies, Hernan and his wife, Elizabeth, started Al Dia in their 2nd floor apartment in the Olney Neighborhood; and

WHEREAS, Hernan and Elizabeth quickly distinguished their paper with an uncommon level of professionalism, and deep commitment to core principles of journalism; and

WHEREAS, Al Dia grew quickly in popularity, establishing itself as the most trusted source of news in the Latino Community. By 2000, the growing paper was able to move its offices to Center City; and

WHEREAS, Al Dia has transformed from humble beginnings into a premier news organization, recognized nationally for its coverage of Latino issues, and distinguished locally by its success in expanding the political discourse to include issues of importance to Philadelphia's Latino Community; and

WHEREAS, Al Dia has distinguished itself with coverage of immigration reform issues of national importance, with exceptional coverage of events in the Pennsylvania towns of Shenandoah and Hazelton, as well as mass immigration demonstrations in Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, Hernan's contributions have been recognized by his peers and he has served as a former president for the National Association of Hispanic Publications; and

WHEREAS, On August 8th of 2011, Al Dia was one of only five Spanish-language newspapers invited to the White House to interview President Barack Obama; and

WHEREAS, Al Dia has created the national Felix Varela Award, known as "The Spanish Pulitzer Prize" to recognize and support exceptional Spanish-language journalism; and

WHEREAS,...