Univision Announces Key News Promotions

Univision Communications today announced the promotion of three members of its news team. Lourdes Torres has been appointed director of special projects for Univision News; Jairo Marin will serve as executive producer of newsmagazine Aquí y Ahora (Here and Now); and Maria Martinez-Henao has been promoted to managing editor of network news.

“Lourdes, Jairo and Maria play an integral role in Univision’s expanding news coverage and we are pleased to recognize their many contributions with these promotions,” said Daniel Coronell, vice president of Univision News.

A veteran news producer, Torres has been with Univision Network News for 20 years. Torres has directed Univision’s election coverage since 1994, including special election polls, coverage of the Democratic and Republican National Conventions and past presidential debates. She has also been instrumental in implementing the network’s renewed commitment to various social initiatives including education.

Torres is spearheading the network’s first education week this October. A recipient of two national Emmy Awards, Torres is a graduate of the University of Texas in Austin, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and Latin American studies.

Marin started his career at Univision in July 2002 as a special projects coordinator for Univision Television Group. He worked his way up to become producer and senior producer for Aquí y Ahora and later managing editor for the weekly primetime news magazine show in May 2007.

Before that, Marin was a producer and news director for KMEX Los Angeles. He has been a foreign correspondent for Noticiero de las Siete of Programar TV and a radio correspondent for Radio Cadena Nacional, where he got his start in journalism. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and journalism from Universidad de Bogota “Jorge Tadeo” in Colombia.

Martinez-Henao joined Univision in February 2002 and has served as the national and international assignment editor for Univision News. She was part of the team responsible for launching Univision’s Al Punto (To the Point), the first Sunday morning public affairs show in Spanish-language television, where she also coordinated and produced high profile interviews with world presidents, U.S. political figures, writers, civic leaders and sports personalities. She has also field produced major news events such as political conventions in 2004 and 2008, military coups and elections in Honduras as well as natural disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita, in addition to the recent extensive coverage of Hurricane Irene.

Before that, Martinez-Henao was news director at KNVO McAllen, Texas, where she managed the day-to-day operations of the newsroom. Martinez-Henao received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a minor in broadcasting from Florida International University.