Managing Editor
Al Día, Dallas
Aspirations for ASNE
For decades ASNE has done so many good things in several areas. From First Amendment issues to leadership training and from an emphasis on improving local news reporting to sharing best practices to bring international news to our readers. That's a big, fat mission. Can we still do it all in times of shifting readers' interests, dwindling resources, newer technologies and fragmented audiences?
I don't think so.
I think ASNE needs to keep evolving and keep up with the changing realities around us and with a clear focus on our core mission: developing leaders and advocating for First Amendment issues.
This evolution must be driven by our duty to protect the core journalistic values that drive our newsrooms and the experimentation needed to spur innovation.
That's why I'd like to serve on the board, to represent the voice of small news outlets that also are in the midst of experimenting with digital content and mobile distribution channels while adjusting to shifting audiences, complex demographic trends, and new business models.
I first started attending ASNE conventions in 1999. This organization has become my school after college. ASNE has given me so much that I feel it's my turn to give back.
During the last 12 months I've been co-chair of the International Committee and helped to organize a summit in El Paso to expose the issue of violence against journalists in Mexico and along the U.S.-Mexican border. The program lived up to ASNE's mission of shedding light into places and situations where freedom of the press is being threatened and needs to be defended.
I think excellent journalism is needed everywhere. Its a cornerstone of our society, and it takes leadership and vision to achieve that. ASNE is the school that editors never graduate from to keep learning and to bring innovation.
Career
Carbajal is the managing editor of Dallas-based Al Día, the Spanish-language newspaper of The Dallas Morning News. Carbajal oversees the newsroom, which includes website operations. As the founding editor of Al Día, Carbajal recruited and trained the news staff, which continues to be one his main responsibilities.
As the ranking editor at Al Día, Carbajal is also part of the newspaper's management group, where he works with the Marketing, Sales, Finance and the Distribution departments. He serves in a number of committees at The Dallas Morning News. Under his leadership, Al Día has been named best Spanish-language newspaper and newspaper of the year several times by the National Association of Hispanic Publications and Texas-Associated Press Managing Editors.
Carbajal was a member of the Belo Corp.'s initial Emerging Talent class (2003) for management development and was a participant in the first ASNE/UNITY Leadership Summit in 2004.
He's married and resides in Dallas.
ASNE Activities
A member since 2004, Carbajal is currently co-chair of the International Committee and serves on the Convention Program Committee. He has been a member of the Diversity, Ethics and Values, and Innovation committees and has also served as an election judge and convention floor manger.