Maria Hinojosa

Maria Hinojosa is a Mexican-American journalist, author, and broadcaster who has covered America's untold stories for over three decades. She is the founder of Futuro Media Group and anchors Latino USA, one of the longest-running national Latino news programs in U.S. public media. Throughout her career, Hinojosa has reported for PBS, CBS, WNBC, CNN, and NPR, focusing on stories about immigration, social justice, and the experiences of diverse communities in America. Her 2020 memoir "Once I Was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America" explores both her personal journey as an immigrant and her observations of U.S. immigration policy. As the first Latina to anchor a PBS FRONTLINE report, Hinojosa has earned multiple awards including four Emmys, the John Chancellor Award, the Studs Terkel Community Media Award, and the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award. Her work consistently amplifies marginalized voices while examining the intersection of politics, immigration, and social issues. Her influence extends into academia, where she has served as the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Chair of Latin American and Latino Studies at DePaul University and has taught at multiple institutions. The Futuro Media Group, which she founded in 2010, continues to produce multimedia content focused on diverse American experiences.

Readers appreciate Hinojosa's personal storytelling style and ability to weave her own immigrant experiences into broader narratives about Latino communities in America. Her audiobook narration receives specific praise for adding emotional depth. Common positive mentions: - Clear explanations of complex immigration issues - Balance of journalism with intimate family stories - Strong voice in highlighting underreported stories - Authenticity in describing Mexican-American experiences Critical feedback focuses on: - Some repetition between her books - Occasional disorganized narrative structure - Desire for more historical context Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: "Once I Was You" - 4.3/5 (2,800+ ratings) "Raising Raul" - 4.1/5 (200+ ratings) Amazon: "Once I Was You" - 4.7/5 (1,100+ ratings) Notable reader comment: "She doesn't just tell you what happened - she brings you into the room and makes you feel it." - Goodreads reviewer

Once I Was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America (2020) A memoir detailing Hinojosa's experiences as a Mexican-American journalist and immigrant, examining her personal story alongside broader themes of immigration policy and media representation in the United States.

Once I Was You: Finding My Voice and Passing the Mic (2021) An adapted version of Hinojosa's memoir for young readers, focusing on her journey from immigrant child to pioneering Latina journalist.

Raising Raul: Adventures Raising Myself and My Son (2000) A personal account of Hinojosa's experiences balancing her career as a journalist with motherhood and raising her son as a working mother.

Crews: Gang Members Talk to Maria Hinojosa (1995) A collection of interviews with gang members in different U.S. cities, exploring their lives, motivations, and the social conditions that influence gang membership.