Maria Martin

María Emilia Martin (January 28, 1951 – December 2, 2023) was a Mexican-born American journalist who primarily focused on Latin American and Latino affairs. After working for National Public Radio (NPR), she founded Latino USA, a radio program focused on Latino American culture, issues, and history.

Early life and education Martin was born in Mexico City on January 28, 1951, and was of Mexican and Irish descent. She grew up in California.

Career In 1975, Martin first became involved in radio after KBBF, a bilingual radio station in Santa Rosa, California, The weekly show, Somos Chicanas, saw Martin doing her first journalistic work as she produced the show as a volunteer.

After leaving KBBF, Martin founded California En Revista, a Spanish-language radio news magazine, and worked for the Latin American News Service in El Paso, Texas as an editor.

Martin joined NPR, where she was an editor on their national program, Latin File.

Martin left NPR in 1992,

Martin moved to Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala in 2003, and continued to contribute to NPR reports on Guatemalan issues through 2023.

Recognition In 1998, Martin received the Best Voice On The Radio award from The Austin Chronicles Best of Austin awards.

In 2000, Martin won the Unda-USA Gabriel Award and a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for her story, "Who Were the Torturers? The Betrayal of Sister Dianna Ortiz," which aired on Latino USA in November 1999.

In September 2015, Martin was inducted into the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Hall of Fame. At the time of her death, Martin was a journalist fellow for the University of South Carolina's Center for Religion and Civic Culture.

Death and legacy In 2023, Martin struggled with health issues. She died at age 72 in Austin, Texas, on December 2, 2023, following an operation.

Her personal papers were donated to the Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection at the University of Texas at Austin.