Editor’s Note: As someone who has also known Marcela García for years, when Javier offered to create an English-language version of the beautiful words he wrote about our mutual friend in Spanish for El Planeta, it was a very easy publishing decision. This is one opinion piece where I agree 100%, so no disclosure about this one. Enjoy. Marcela, we are all so proud of you! — Julio

When I received the news that Mexican journalist Marcela García had been selected as a 2025 Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, I felt a deep sense of pride and joy. Journalism, in my view, is one of the most competitive professions out there because a journalist’s identity and personal brand are precious assets, carefully cultivated over a lifetime.

As a media owner, I’ve worked with many journalists over the years, and I can say the competitive dynamic in this profession is unlike any other, especially among colleagues competing for scoops, publishing space, and credibility.

That context is key to understanding Marcela’s achievement, which happened days after she was named a 2025 Pulitzer finalist along with two of her Boston Globe Opinion colleagues. She chose to build her career in the United States, a tough environment for Hispanic journalists. She committed to writing in Spanish, perfected her English, built credibility in an unfamiliar landscape, and eventually earned a seat at one of the country’s most prestigious editorial teams: the Boston Globe’s editorial board. That is not just admirable. It’s historic.

20 Years Ago in Boston

I met Marcela 20 years ago when she arrived from Mexico to Boston. Thanks to the recommendations of David Beard, then a Harvard lecturer and editor of Boston.com, and Jerry Villacrés, editorial advisor at El Planeta, she joined our newsroom as an intern. We were building a newspaper with limited resources but big aspirations. At the time, I was the founder, publisher, and editor, and I had created an editorial committee composed of community leaders to help me shape El Planeta’s editorial style. After one semester as an intern, Marcela became our first full-time professional journalist. I soon promoted her to editor, not just for her talent, but for her ethics, ambition, commitment to the community, and tenacity.

I remember moments that defined her character: when she rode along in a police car in East Boston to cover a raid on a prostitution ring, or when we walked out of a restaurant in Brookline and she boldly approached the police who were unjustly detaining a group of immigrants. She identified herself with her journalist badge from El Planeta and got them released. I also recall her restlessness when she felt she could do more. It was clear she was meant to break barriers.

Building an Exemplary Career

Being a Hispanic journalist in the U.S. comes with added challenges. During her time as editor, it was common for us to be excluded from important press conferences or not taken seriously as members of the Spanish-language press. The discrimination was blatant. And even today, Hispanic media outlets remain invisible in many circles of influence. The Pulitzers have yet to honor any U.S. Spanish-language news outlet. To date, I can’t recall any significant Nieman Media Lab studies analyzing journalism produced in Spanish in the U.S.

Ironically, I believe it’s more likely to be selected as a Nieman Fellow if you’re an excellent journalist in Argentina, Colombia, or Mexico than if you’re the best Hispanic journalist in a city like Boston.

That’s why Marcela’s accomplishment is so meaningful. She has patiently and tirelessly built an exemplary career. For many years, she was the only Hispanic journalist in a newsroom of over 200 at the Boston Globe. Her early years at El Planeta and her unwavering work ethic make her fully deserving of this recognition. With her selection as a Nieman Fellow, Marcela becomes a role model for a new generation of young journalists who still face many of the same barriers.

Marcela is regia. In every sense of the word, she is brilliant and commanding. She is a warrior, a woman who refuses to be stopped by obstacles. And I am sure she will continue making headlines. May these words honor her journey and signal a future filled with achievement and impact.

About the Author

Javier Marin is a Hispanic entrepreneur, investor, and media proprietor. He serves as Executive Chairman of Tiempo Company, the media group behind El Planeta in Boston and Tiempo Latino in Washington, D.C., two of the most influential Spanish-language news outlets on the East Coast.

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