Exclusive: Clayton Davis of AwardsCircuit forms Latino Entertainment Journalists Association (LEJA)

Yes, you read that right. The Latino Entertainment Journalists Association (or LEJA) has formed under President Clayton Davis, the founder and owner of the entertainment website AwardsCircuit. An historic moment.

I'm so excited to finally announce. It's been such a secret and have been working on it for months. But Latinos now have a voice in the film and TV world and I am so humbled and honored to be among them…learning and being inspired.#YoSoyLEJA https://t.co/OopjDs1rvq

— Clayton Davis (@ByClaytonDavis) December 7, 2018

Created as a way to give a greater voice to the Latino community in entertainment journalism, LEJA will cater for U.S. based writers (and its territories) in developing a greater awareness of this cultural group and their work. And these ethnic backgrounds will include: “Latino, Latina, Latinx, Hispanic, Afro-Latino, Afro-Latina, Latin, Spanish, or any inclusive and progressive description that champions and accelerates the voices of our culture from around the world.”

Of course, LEJA president Clayton Davis feels passionate about the opportunities and frustrations that come with the turf. “The core values of LEJA are inclusive to everyone. This organization celebrates the culture I’ve known from my early days in the Bronx and unites all of us, finally, under one mission, to lift us up. For decades, as a person of mixed race, I struggled to find my place in any culture. It wasn’t just non-Latinos that turned me away. Sometimes it was Latinos themselves because I didn’t meet their own identifying traits for what makes a ‘real‘ Hispanic. ”

Congrats to the founders and wonderful, powerful inaugural members.💙 As someone who's honestly struggled to own my Uruguayan-American identity, especially as a writer, this is truly a groundbreaking moment to witness. #YoSoyLEJA https://t.co/5H8Y1aC6eB

— jessica daniela ᡴꪫ (@the_cinemabliss) December 7, 2018

Go find out more, and bookmark, here: www.latinojournalists.com

And here are the initial 24 members of LEJA. Look out, too for their own set of film nominations on 20th January 2019. For now, get following if you don’t already:

Carlos Aguilar (The Wrap, MovieMaker Magazine, Remezcla) – @Carlos_Film – Latino (more specifically Mexican)

Manuel Betancourt (Remezcla, Backstage, The Atlantic) – @bmanuel – White, Latinx

J. Don Birnam (Splash Report) – @jdonbirnam – Mexican American
Kerensa Cadenas (VanityFair) – @kerensacadenas – Mexican-American
Liz Calvario (Entertainment Tonight) – @lizcalvario – Mexican-American
Rosy Cordero (Deadline, Latina) – @SocialRosy – Peruvian/Cuban
Niki Cruz (amNewYork) – @cruzniki – Puerto Rican and Italian – LEJA Secretary
Clayton Davis (AwardsCircuit) – @AwardsCircuit – Puerto Rican and Black – LEJA President
Vanessa Erazo (Remezcla) – @infoCinelandia – Mexican and Salvadoran
Tim Estiloz (Boston Latino TV) – @TimEstiloz – Hispanic (mixed), Mexican, Native American, Spanish, Black
Dani Fernandez (Nerdist) – @msdanifernandez – Mexican-American
Toni Gonzales (Freelance) – @movietoni – Mexican and Native American – LEJA Vice President
Ed Gonzalez (Slant) – @certified_ed – Latino
Umberto Gonzalez (Heroic Hollywood, The Wrap) – @elmayimbe – Colombian and Dominican
Daniel Gutierrez (Directors Cut Radio) – @MovieGuyDan – Hispanic New Mexican
Marcela Isaza (Associated Press) – @misaza – Hispanic
Yolanda Machado (Marie Claire, Remezcla) – @SassyMamainLA – Peruvian-Mexican, First generation American
Kiko Martinez (San Antonio Current, CineSnob) – @cinesnobkiko – Mexican – LEJA Treasurer
Wilson Morales (BlackFilm) – @blackfilm – Honduran of African descent
Claudia Puig (KPCC 89.3) – @claudiapuig – Mexican and German
Naibe Reynoso (Freelance, The Trend Talk show, France 24) – @naibereynoso – Mexican-American
Jack Rico (ShowBizCafe.com) – @JackRicofficial – Colombian-American
Julianne Escobedo Shepherd (Jezebel) – @jawnita – Chicana
Jose Solís (StageBuddy, The Film Stage) – @josesolismayen – Latinx