Macon Magazine

78 maconmagazine.com | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023 who cannot speak. Everything we began to be 'free' began to fade, to be silenced, and that's when I realized the value of having a voice, of being heard, of being attended to, of belonging to a community. ... It's about listening carefully to silenced voices, ignored concerns, and dismissed dreams, and then translating those voices into stories that can touch the heart of society. ... It's an act of solidarity and compassion in its purest form. But it's also an ethical and moral responsibility." Medientorno Magazine makes bilingual connections Once she knew her family was safe, Pirela continued her journalism work and created a bilingual version of the magazine she created in Venezuela but catered to Central Georgia readers and events. "I saw there was a need where we could inform our Spanish- speaking community, but also inform the English-speaking community about the things happening in the Hispanic community," said Pirela. Medientorno Middle Georgia was a print publication for about four years until Pirela realized they needed to go digital if they were going to reach more people. According to PEW Research Center data, 94% of U.S. Latinos use mobile devices to access the internet, and on a typical weekday, 75% get their news from internet sources. Pirela stated that in her experience, this "has significantly changed how news is reported and consumed. This trend has necessitated adaptation in the field of journalism. As a media outlet, we've had to undergo training in social media management and adjust our content strategies to offer news in different, more natural and fresh formats, all while maintaining the quality of information. ... [T]he speed of online news has presented challenges, but ... we have been adapting to the new trends of the digital era without losing sign of the essence of well-executed and responsible journalism." Founding NotiVisión Georgia In 2018, NotiVisión Georgia was created to be not only a communication outlet but also a social component where they could physically be engaged with the community. "I quickly realized that getting trust from the Spanish-speaking community was not going to be easy. Our people are the type where they need to see to believe," said Pirela. "We try to be as transparent as possible." NotiVisión's easily navigable website, digital archives, and social media savvy set it apart from the more traditional print, local broadcast, YouTube, and Facebook presence of Que Pasa. Pirela praises Velez's foundational work. She simultaneously believes that "over the past nine years, we have set ourselves apart by focusing on innovation, expanding our reach, and creating journalism that not only informs but also empowers and connects more deeply with the community" who benefit from NotiVisión's next-generation approach. Expanding the footprint Headquartered in Warner Robins and offering a different perspective, NotiVisión expands the footprint of Hispanic leadership and advocacy in the region. Pirela has worked hard for NotiVisión to be a point of reference for the Hispanic community regarding finances, government, health care, education, and other topics. She and her team are working to bridge the gap between the Hispanic community and the rest of Central Georgia – and beyond, to state and national platforms. As a part of this mission, in 2022, Pirela became president of HispanoLead, "a nonprofit organization whose main objective is to help (in different areas) the Hispanic community in the region." Going further geographically, Pirela contributes to statewide Hispanic news as director and coordinator of Spanish radio news for Pirela in Rosa Parks Square. ABOVE LEFT At the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Festival in Downtown Macon. Left to right: Bibb County School District Superintendent Dan Sims, Ana Hernandez, Monica Pirela, Mayor Lester Miller, Edna Adams

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