50 Most Influential Latinos

Rafael Navarro

Editor & Director.

El Nuevo Georgia.

Rafael Navarro graduated in social communication-journalism at the Autonomous University of the Caribbean [Universidad Autónoma del Caribe] in Barranquilla, Colombia. Furthermore, he is a recipient of a scholarship from Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, a Germany foundation, with which he completed in Quito, Ecuador his studies in television news production at the International Center of Advanced Communication Studies for Latin America [Centro Internacional de Estudios Superiores de Comunicación]. He also holds a master’s degree in political sciences from Universidad Vasco de Quiroga of Morelia, Mexico.

He has worked as a press, radio, and television journalist in the capacity of a writer, editor, and director, as well as creative advertising creator for print and audiovisual material. He has also worked as a consultant for the public sector and several private companies in Colombia including the House of Representatives of the Colombian Congress. He has directed several political campaigns and been a university professor and academic advisor of Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia of Colombia.

In 2000, he moved to Atlanta, which has been his residence ever since. He initially worked as a freelance for the newspaper La Voz del Pueblo. One year afterward, the newspaper Nuestra Semanario hired him, where he worked for two years as a reporter and editor. Then, Rafael became the director and owner of that newspaper and also of the publication Gainesville Latino News of Hall County, which circulated during four years up to 2008.

In 2010, in the face of one of the worst economic crises of recent times, he orchestrated the first and currently the only consortium of Spanish-language media in our community. He brought together three of the existing newspapers at the time: Georgia Latino News, La Voz del Pueblo, and Siete Días. The partnership dissolved in 2012, and the newspaper returns once again under the responsibility of El Nuevo Georgia. El Nuevo Georgia retains the same vision, policies, and values that have always characterized the publication, which was conceived as a family newspaper to inform and educate on the principles that underlie the community.

Rafael, for the past 19 years, has participated in almost all events that have taken place in the community. He stands out for his participation through informational and advertising support to organizations that work for Latinos on all fronts, such as support in the educational process of children and young people to keep them in school and continue to university. He also stands out on other fronts such as political education to increase the participation and exposure of our leaders.

As a professional, he has been an interviewee and provided his collaboration to other national media such as Univision and Telemundo. Internationally, he has participated in coverage and forums for Televisa in Mexico, radio programs in Perú, the newspaper El Universal of Cartagena, Colombia, among others. Locally, radio stations frequently invite Rafael to discuss topics of interest in politics and immigration. And as an editorial partner of the Univision channel in Atlanta, he participates with notes in the space for news of Univisión 34 Atlanta.

In 2006, the Consul General of El Salvador in Atlanta gave recognition to Rafael for his support and dedication on topics of interest of the community and Latinos in general in Georgia. In 2008, he was awarded the Hispanic Excellence Award for his contribution in promoting multiculturalism in the state. In 2015, he was a nominee for the Rice Awards, which is a recognition for local people who create dialog and proposals to develop their communities. Recently, the Colombian government, through its consulate in Atlanta, recognized Rafael as one of its outstanding nationals for his business and journalistic career in Georgia.

He currently continues to occupy the post of editor and director of the newspaper El Nuevo Georgia, and he is co-creative and presenter of the magazine Face2Face Atlanta Show on digital platforms. Lastly, he is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the Education Writers Association.