HFPA Headquarters in West Hollywood
(Credit: Wikipedia)

Latin Heat Media Founder and CEO  Bel Hernandez has been selected to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Credentials Committee. The committee selects new members of the HFPA, the group that presents the prestigious Golden Globe Awards.

Considered “The Godmother of Latino Hollywood,” Hernandez is one of five prominent outside journalism professionals recruited to join a committee key to diversifying the HFPA. The other members are journalist Tre’Vell Anderson, author and former TV anchor Terry Azur, publicist Toni B. Moston and USC assistant journalism professor Allissa Richardson. 

The appointments are hailed by HFPA as “one of the most important steps of their comprehensive reform plan announced in May,” when the nonprofit organization announced proposed changes to correct its failures. Those shortcomings were the subject of a Los Angeles Times expose last February which generated widespread criticism of the 78-year-old group about its inner workings and lack of diversity. After the reporting, some actors returned their Golden Globes, NBC canceled the broadcast of the awards ceremony and some HFPA members resigned.

With the Credential Committee namings and other recent changes and new proposals, the beleaguered association hopes to turn the page on this year’s controversies.  

“We are so grateful that these five highly respected journalism professionals—each with diverse backgrounds and extensive experience in their fields—are devoting their time and energy to ensure an inclusive makeup of our Association,” said recently installed HFPA Board President Helen Hoehne. “Just in the past few months, we’ve changed our governance structure from top to bottom. Inclusion will be at the core of our new organization, and this new structure will allow us to not only grow but continue to add unique, representative voices from journalists around the world.” 

 (L-R)  @terryanzur, author, former TV anchor and media coach; @belscoolist, the Godmother of Latino Hollywood and CEO of @latinheatmag; Toni B. Moston, an experienced publicist whose career spans projects around the globe; and @drallirich, Assistant Professor of Journalism at @uscannenberg. (Credit: HFPA)

Hernandez has worked as a journalist for more than four decades, with her work earning recognitions from the Hispanic Public Relations Association, Latina Style Magazine, La Opinion newspaper, Hispanic Lifestyle, National Hispanic Health Foundation, National Hispanic Media Coalition and the City of Los Angeles. 

For her work focused on Latinos in the film industry, Moviemaker Magazine dubbed Hernandez “The Godmother of Latino Hollywood.” Hernandez is at the helm of Latin Heat Media, a multi-media company creating content by and about Latinos for universal audiences. She wears many hats under the Latin Heat brand including the publisher of the online magazine Latin Heat Entertainment (LatinHeat.com), executive producer and co-host of TheTRENDTalk Show and co-founder of LATINAFest: Mind, Body & Soul, an annual event to empower Latina women.

Latin Heat’s unprecedented coverage has supported the growing impact of Latinos in Hollywood. Considered the third entertainment trade in Hollywood by many, the outlet provides business news coverage, latest breaking industry news, talent profiles, TV & films news, spotlight on talent in front and behind the camera, and inside research not found anywhere else on Latinos in Hollywood. 

Bel Hernandez, far right, with her co-hosts of ¡Hola LA! one of several shows she’s exec produced.

An accomplished Hollywood businesswoman, Hernandez originally pursued acting as a career. And although she may have found big success as a multimedia mogul, she more recently appeared in The Purge: Anarchy and the indie film Pretty Rosebud directed by Oscar Torre.

Hernandez’s work and leadership led her to serve as a juror on the George Foster Peabody Awards Board, where she was the first Latina/o to serve as the chair of the board.  

“I am beyond honored to be part of the HFPA Credentialing Committee which is tasked with the important work of helping diversifying the make-up of their members to be as inclusive as possible,” said Hernandez. “I know first hand about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion”.

In late August, the HFPA selected a new 15-member board of directors, with four of them serving on the powerful body for the first time. This board selected Hoene as the new president in early September and also oversaw the selection of the five new outside members of the revamped Credentials Committee, which is expected to announce a “class of new members” in the next few days. 

In the past several weeks, the HFPA also appointed Shaka McGlotten, Santiago Pozo and Paula Williams Madison to its Advisory Board. Also, it named Jeff Harris, Joanna Dodd Massey and Sharlette Hambrick as the first independent board directors for the association.

Bel Hernandez and film director Robert Rodriguez at the ALMA Awards

Latin Heat’s Hernandez and the other four new appointees will help the Credentials Committee with its sole responsibility to “ensure potential members meet the proper requirements,” according to the association. The obscure membership approval process was one of the main criticism the exclusive, 80-something-member association has faced, leading to allegations of persistent cronyism and even racial discrimination.

The HFPA overhauled its criteria for new member applicants in August in an effort to make itself more inclusive. That includes:

  • Applicants can now work for any foreign publication medium: print, radio, television, online, or be a photojournalist. The previous requirement allowed only print journalists.
  • Applicants can live anywhere in the United States. This replaces the former requirement of living solely in Southern California.
  • Applicants must submit eight examples of their journalistic work products from the past two years. The previous requirement was 24 examples over a three-year period. The credentials committee will set a required number of clippings in subsequent years.
  • Eligibility is now expanded to journalists outside of those accredited by the Motion Picture Association, MPA.
  • The sponsorship requirement is now eliminated and the role of the credentials committee will include third parties from credible journalistic and other organizations focused on diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • New members will immediately be allowed to vote on the Golden Globes, vote on board members and serve on committees.
  • All current members will be required to meet the standards as incoming members for re-accreditation of their membership. This process will take place annually, and members may begin submitting materials to the credentials committee.