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During my time in New York City last week, I had the pleasure to attend a special event hosted by Cosmos for Latinas at Macy’s Herald Square to celebrate the beauty and culture of Brasil. As part of their “Brasil: A Magical Journey” campaign, Macy’s has put together an amazing display of limited-edition capsule collections created by renowned Brazilian designers, Brazil-inspired fashion from other designers, including existing Macy’s brands.

After a brief introduction from Donna Kalajian Lagani, editor-in-chief and SVP, publishing director and chief revenue officer of Cosmopolitan and Michelle Herrera Mulligan, Editor-In-Chief of Cosmo For Latinas, I got to meet with many of the beauty brands participating in the campaign including Estee Lauder, Clarins, Shiseido, Lancome, and Coty Fragrances.

I want to pick a favorite to tell you all about but I just can’t! I’m a Miami girl and in love with bursts of color so everything I’m about to share with you is totally a “must buy.” Plus, I’ve been to Brazil and think this is the perfect way to experience all the beauty and electricity that the South American country has to offer without sitting 9 hours on a plane and spending large amounts of money on travel expenses! REMEMBER

Swing states with large Hispanic populations are generating higher mobile ad prices for political advertisers than other 2012 election battleground states. Though it's not clear that the desire to reach Hispanic voters is driving up prices, the data from mobile ad firm Pontiflex suggests it could cost campaigns more to target mobile ads to them.

Political candidates and groups using the firm's mobile signup ads are spending nearly $1 more per lead on average in Nevada and $2 more per lead on average in New Mexico, compared with average costs of the same types of ads targeting people in other swing states.

The battleground state prices, however, are highest in Montana, which has the smallest population of all the states measured, and where the Hispanic population is tiny in comparison to Nevada and New Mexico.

"The more populous a state is, the lower the cost per lead," said Zephrin Lasker, co-founder and CEO of Pontiflex. "Though prices will go up in more sought-after states due to increased demand at some point in the future - as we get closer to the election - this has not happened yet," he said.

Pontiflex serves ads in mobile apps that allow users to signup with campaigns by providing email addresses, names and Zip codes without leaving the app. The company charges advertisers when people signup via the app ads.

Rather than targeting ads to certain types of mobile apps, or based on demographic data, political advertisers mainly are targeting the Pontiflex ads geographically in the hopes of building their lists in key locales, said Lasker.

AT&T to Launch Univision’s Telenovela, Sports and News Networks

NEW YORK , NY/ DALLAS, TX – MAY 11, 2012— Univision Communications Inc., the leading media company serving Hispanic America, and AT&T*, the nation’s fastest-growing TV provider**, today announced a multi-year, multi-platform content agreement to deliver Univision content across all of  AT&T’s platforms, including U-verse® TV, online, smartphones and tablets.

The agreement will bring the most comprehensive selection of Spanish-language networks and content to AT&T customers, including the launch of Univision’s new networks - Univision Deportes, Univision tlnovelas and FOROtv. The deal will also give U-verse TV customers the freedom to watch more Univision content across various platforms and devices, including live feeds of Univision networks in and outside of the home.

In addition, the agreement also includes distribution of Univision’s networks: the Univision Network, TeleFutura, Galavisión and a suite of five TV channels - De Película, De Película Clásico, Bandamax, Ritmoson and Telehit.  Univision Deportes and Univision tlnovelas will launch in the coming weeks and FOROtv will launch later this year.

“Our agreement with AT&T speaks to the importance of the booming Hispanic consumer demographic and the opportunity to deliver subscriber growth through Univision’s platforms,” said Chris Fager, senior vice president of Distribution Sales and Marketing, Univision Communications Inc. “We are excited to expand our deal with AT&T as they maintain an ongoing commitment to the ever growing Hispanic community. This agreement allows both companies to continue to offer robust content options across all AT&T platforms to U.S. Hispanics.”

“We’re proud to expand our agreement with Univision to make more of their programming, including Spanish-language content, available to our U-verse TV customers,” said Richard Levine, executive director of content, AT&T. “This agreement helps us with strategic content initiatives, and is another example of how we continue to bring our customers more value with high-quality content available on the screens they watch most.”

The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

AT&T U-verse TV is the only 100 percent Internet Protocol-based television (IPTV) service offered by a national service provider, making AT&T U-verse one of the most dynamic and feature-rich services available today. For additional information on AT&T U-verse or to find out if it’s available in your area, visit www.att.com/u-verse.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

** Claim based on comparison of major TV providers’ percentage growth in subscriber counts and national market share data over the last 12 quarters combined.

CONTACT: Rosemary Mercedes

                        212-455-5335

                        rmercedes@univision.net

About Univision Communications Inc.

Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the leading media company serving Hispanic America. Its assets include Univision Network, one of the top five networks in the U.S. regardless of language and the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country reaching 96% of U.S. Hispanic households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network reaching 88% of U.S. Hispanic households; Univision Cable Networks, including Galavisión, the country’s leading Spanish-language cable network, as well as Univision tlnovelas, a new 24-hour cable network dedicated to novelas, and a suite of six cable offerings - De Película, De Película Clásico, Bandamax, Ritmoson, Telehit and Clásico TV; Univision Studios, which produces and co-produces reality shows, dramatic series and other programming formats for the Company’s platforms; Univision Television Group, which owns and/or operates 62 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Hispanic radio group which owns and/or operates 69 radio stations in 16 of the top25 U.S. Hispanic markets and 5 stations in Puerto Rico; Univision Interactive Media, a network of national and local online and mobile sites including Univision.com, which continues to be the #1 most-visited Spanish-language website among U.S. online Hispanics, Univision Móvil, a longstanding industry-leader with unique, relevant mobile products and services, and Univision Partner Group, a specialized advertising and publisher network. Headquartered in New York City, UCI has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States. For more information, please visit www.univision.net.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T │DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

Only one in 14 Hispanic adults nationwide have been screened for skin cancer, despite the disease's tendency to be more virulent in this population, according to a report released Monday.

Researchers at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, who compiled the study, said the lack of screening can be attributed to a lack of medical insurance, less access to health care and other socioeconomic factors.

"The findings show there is a need to develop interventions to promote skin examinations among Hispanics at risk for skin cancer," said a written statement from the institute, a part of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Hispanics tend to be diagnosed with a thicker, more advanced melanoma, the deadliest of all skin cancers.

Full body examinations may help discover melanomas before they reach such advanced stages that result in poor prognosis, the study states.

The report also showed that screening rates among Hispanics varied significantly by national origin. Six percent of Mexicans and Dominican Republicans go for screening, while those from Cuba or Puerto Rico have 10 percent screening rates.

"It is of concern that Hispanic individuals with a language barrier, lower level of education and lack of access to health care had especially low screening rates. While additional research is needed, it is clear from this study that this population may greatly benefit from interventions that promote these screenings, particularly for individuals at risk for skin cancer," said Elliot J. Coups, the lead author of the study and a behavioral scientist at the institute. READ MORE

It’s not just soccer. From NASCAR to the NFL Draft, growth in Hispanic sports viewership is climbing significantly. At the same time, sports advertising as a whole continues its steady jump, according to Nielsen.

In February, an average of 73,000 Spanish speakers watched the Daytona 500, up 55% from 2011. In April, an average of 492,000 Hispanics watched the NFL Draft, up almost 100% since 2008.

Also, for the recent NBA regular season, Hispanics accounted for 12% of the total viewers, a 20% bump from the year before. NBA games that were part of a Noche Latina (Latin Night) program saw increased viewership, highlighted by the March 5 game on ABC between Los Lakers (Los Angeles Lakers) and El Heat (Miami Heat), where Hispanics made up 15% of the audience.

Hispanic sports fans may be younger than the general population. Nielsen says in a new sports report that 6.9 million Hispanics watched at least part of March Madness this year. Median age was 39, lower than 44 for African Americans and 48 for whites.

In the first quarter of 2012, national network and cable sports generated $3 billion-plus in ad spending, a 9% increase from the same period last year.

Back at the Daytona 500 on Fox, Nielsen said brand recall for the full audience was up, with some of the most-recalled ads from Mountain Dew, Toyota and Sprint.

In baseball, Nielsen says social-media conversation in the first quarter leading up to opening day had the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox dominating the conversation, using a metric tracking Twitter and Facebook posts, message boards and other outlets. READ MORE

Healthcare marketers should target insured young Hispanic women, a rapidly growing demographic that increasingly serves as healthcare gatekeepers, according to a new national survey commissioned by Cultúr Health, a partnership between Hispanic marketing specialist the vox collective and healthcare public relations firm Cooney/Waters.

The survey found that Latinas aged between 25 and 35 are managing their own health needs and frequently those of their families, parents, grandparents and other relatives as well. At the same time, this group relies heavily on families and community sources for healthcare information and product recommendations, highlighting the importance of engaging all relevant influencers.

“Our survey underscores the need for healthcare marketers to specifically target Hispanic women 25-35 years of age in their communications programs,” says Fred Lake of Cooney/Waters. “Culturally relevant content is as important as ever to reach these Hispanic gatekeepers, but we also place particular emphasis on developing programs designed to increase word-of-mouth and drive family and community awareness of a product or service.”

When asked where they first go for help with a healthcare concern, the majority of young Latinas named a “doctor” (59 percent); however, more than 30 percent named other sources, including a relative, spouse, friend or pharmacist. READ MORE

Azteca America and Grupo Salinas are partnering with Voto Latino in an effort to educate and encourage the Hispanic community to exercise their right to vote.

The multi-media informational campaign includes public service announcements to be aired on Azteca America, a web-based campaign on www.fundacionaztecaamerica.org and printed materials that will be distributed by Azteca America affiliated stations in 75 markets throughout the country. The goal of the campaign is to engage with Latinos and educate them on the importance that each person can make by registering to vote and participating in the upcoming elections.

"Our commitment to incorporating more Latinos into the electoral process is one of the cornerstones of our activities," said Luis J. Echarte, chairman of Azteca America. "The United States is a changing landscape and it's important to make sure that our community is represented."

In coming months, Azteca America will take a leading role in the forums planned in Washington DC, Charlotte, and Tampa Bay to address relevant issues affecting the Latino community and how the Latino vote is an important part of the US electoral process. Azteca America's correspondent in Washington, Armando Guzman, will feature special coverage of all the conventions leading to the election. READ MORE

Democrats know the slow economy will significantly hinder President Obama’s efforts to win reelection, but they could at least take some solace in the notion that several voting blocks would still come out strong for the president, perhaps giving him the victory. But even that hope may be fading.

While the president could still win those voting blocks, it is likely that the turnout will be lower and the spread between the president and Republican Mitt Romney will be smaller.

The Women’s Vote. The latest CBS/New York Times poll shows Romney leading Obama among women, 46 to 44 percent. In April it was Obama on top with 49 percent and Romney at 43 percent.

The CBS/NYT poll relied on a small sample, 615 adults nationwide, and other recent polls still have Obama leading with women; so it’s too soon to know if a shift is underway. Even so, such a shift makes sense, because women have lots of reasons to be dissatisfied with the current administration.

In families, women are often the ones buying the groceries, filling up the car, providing or paying for the health care, and even paying the bills. All of those costs are up, way up, while incomes have barely moved. READ MORE

As the number and influence of Hispanics in the U.S. has steadily increased in recent decades, they have been celebrated and derided, welcomed and deported, courted for their dollars and lambasted for clinging to their culture even as they are bombarded with ads for the latest pseudo-enchilada at Taco Bell.

Hispanics have been sliced and diced by age, size, and gender. They have been measured by how they look and what they buy, what language they speak, where they live, and whom they vote for.

But what some people really want to know is: Do they melt? Specifically, are they following the traditional model of “melting pot” Americanization, or are they, as some recent studies suggest, impervious to the homogenizing foundry of acculturation? The answer to that question has important implications not just for Hispanics, but also for the social and economic well-being of all Americans.

With the 2012 presidential elections looming, and minority births outnumbering those of non-Hispanic whites for the first time in U.S. history, the argument over the nature and future of Hispanic acculturation and identity is reaching a crescendo, with plenty of data and emotion on both sides of the debate. READ MORE

Latinas rely heavily on family contacts and community word-of-mouth for healthcare information and product recommendations; healthcare providers a close second

This age group prefers English-language healthcare information

Vast majority have health insurance through employer or spouse, increasing their purchasing power for healthcare products, services

A new national survey commissioned by Cultur Health shows healthcare marketers should target insured Hispanic women ages 25-35. These young Latinas, representing a rapidly growing Hispanic demographic, are key healthcare gatekeepers - managing their own health needs and frequently those of their families, parents, grandparents and other relatives as well. Companies can receive a full copy of the survey report and a free Hispanic communications consultation by sending a request to info@culturhealth.com.

Cultur Health, the Hispanic healthcare communications service of the vox collective and Cooney/Waters Group, commissioned the survey among employed Latina women age 25 to 35 to uncover key insights to inform healthcare communications platforms targeting Hispanics. READ MORE

For the first time, there are more black, Hispanic and other minority babies being born in the United States than white babies, according to government data released on Thursday that confirm a long-growing trend.

U.S. Census Bureau data show the United States is on its way to becoming "majority minority," with almost half of all young children currently from minority groups, including Hispanic, black and Asian.

As of July 1, 2011, 50.4 percent of babies younger than age 1 were minorities or of more than one race, up from 49.5 percent in 2010, the data showed.

Among children younger than age 5, 49.7 percent were a minority or mixed race last year, up from 49.0 percent in 2010, according to the agency, which tracks the U.S. population.

While the country has long been on course to see whites lose their majority, the latest figures make it clear that the next generations of Americans will look far different than today.

The figures are also likely to reignite debate over what it means to be an American in an election year where race, poverty and immigration are emotional campaign issues.

The 197.5 million whites of all ages in the United States still make up nearly two-thirds of the nation, the Census Bureau said. Its data show 36.6 percent of the U.S. population were minorities in 2011 compared to 36.1 percent in 2010.

Some experts on race and ethnicity say current immigrants are far less likely to "melt" into U.S. culture, while others say today's minorities may soon see their heritage blend as whites did. Generations ago there were not "whites" but European groups that were identified as Irish, German, Italian and Greek, among others. READ MORE

Her husband always pressured her to go the doctor. But she kept postponing her check-ups, maybe because she was afraid of getting bad news.

Finally, to placate her husband, Reyes Cabrera agreed to go to a clinic. And the nightmare she had feared came true. Last January she got a notice in the mail with the diagnosis that she had severe breast cancer and that there is also evidence that she had cervical cancer developing in her ovaries.

"This has been very hard for me. In March I had to have a mastectomy and then I had to have months of radiation and chemotherapy. There have been days when I thought I couldn’t take any more," says Reyes in a weak voice.

Reyes, who is originally from Michoacan but has lived for close to 20 years near San Jose, Calif., adds that her ordeal has not yet come to an end.

"Soon I will do more tests to determine the cause of the cancer because there is no history of the disease in my family. The doctors have said it is very possible that it might have started with me and, if appropriate, I will have my uterus and ovaries removed," she says in a distressed voice.

The only thing that’s given her strength is her family, says Reyes, who is 38 and a mother of four. "My husband has been very good to me; he has been my great support. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have gotten the test. From the beginning he told me he wouldn’t leave me alone and he hasn’t. My children, who are 19, 16, 9 and 3 years old, have also helped me a lot to keep going," the young woman says. READ MORE

ALTHOUGH the word “upfront” is English rather than Spanish, the broadcast networks and cable channels that aim programming at Hispanic viewers are again increasing their presence during the annual television upfront week.

There are nine presentations scheduled this week to brief advertisers on programming plans for the 2012-13 season (and yes, also woo them with shrimp and adult beverages). Last May, during the upfront week that preceded the 2011-12 season, there were five such presentations.

The reason for the higher profile this upfront week is the growing interest among advertisers in reaching Hispanic consumers in light of the results of the 2010 census, which found that the Hispanic population had surpassed the 50 million mark. More demand among advertisers to reach Spanish-speaking consumers — and those acculturated Hispanics who are bilingual or speak English — means more efforts by media companies to sell commercial time during shows those consumers watch. READ MORE

There is a growing necessity for brand marketers to provide culturally relevant content and messaging that specifically targets US Hispanics. In fact, Nielsen’s recent study, The Hispanic Market Imperative – clearly states that Hispanics are the largest immigrant group to exhibit significant sustainability of their culture and are not disappearing into the American melting pot. Now that we have confirmed that cultural sustainability matters to US Hispanics, companies must become more educated about the Latino community not just as consumers – but more importantly, as people and the identity we represent as a diverse community. They must recognize that Hispanics buy brands that empower their cultural relevancy.

“Studies show that embracing American culture does not strip Hispanics of their heritage or render them susceptible only to mainstream marketing influences,” says Armando Azarloza, president of The Axis Agency, a leading national multicultural marketing agency that focuses on the importance of tapping cultural movements. Hispanics in America are growing tired of being the target of new marketing campaigns by brands that are not creating cultural connectivity. In fact, Latinos are more likely to turn away from brands that are only interested in selling to them, rather than empowering their cultural relevancy. Hispanics are more inclined to build trustworthy relationships with people and companies that take the time to understand who we are and what we represent morally, ethically and culturally. The Hispanic market can no longer be viewed as a short-term expense, but rather should be approached as a strategic long-term investment. READ MORE

Blanca Pagan works in banking. Sarah Corona owns a Cuban restaurant, and her husband, Jesus Corona, owns a construction company.

Pagan came from Puerto Rico with her boyfriend in 1995 to find a better life before they could start a family. The Coronas came from Cuba.

Today, they have families and are preparing their children for productive lives here.

This is the future of America.

The rapidly growing Hispanic population has become, and is expected to be, an even greater force in the U.S. economy.

In response to the growth of Hispanic population, retailers in recent years have started catering to Hispanics, said Jim Farrell, assistant professor of finance and economics at Florida Southern College's Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise.

Many are including aisles with Hispanic foods, targeting that market in advertising, and using more Latino actors and actresses in commercials.

Because Hispanic households tend to be larger, their shopping budgets tend to be bigger. READ MORE

According to the Center for Disease Control, one in eight kidney patients are Latino and are at risk for Type 2 diabetes.

Victor Valle, 44, has to check his blood glucose levels several times a day.

Not only that, he's at the mercy of taking more than a dozen medications to control his Type 2 diabetes.

His vision is one of many things he's losing, now that his diabetes has damaged his kidneys.

Dr. James Cevallos says Latinos are not only more prone to developing Type 2 diabetes but according to the Center for Disease Control, 1 in 8 kidney failure patients, are Latino.

He also says elevated sugars caused by diabetes damage the kidney's filtering system.

"Many people who have diabetes will not even have symptoms of kidney disease until it's too late," said Cevallos. "When it's too late the only options are kidney transplants or dialysis." READ MORE

In high school, Candace de León-Zepeda was working in her family's tire shop. Patricia Portales was preparing to become a secretary. Margaret Cantú-Sánchez was college-bound but already cognizant of the lack of Latino representation in books.

Against many odds, all three will get what one of their mentors described as “a little papelito,” a precious piece of paper, that will open doors to the academy.

Today they'll receive their doctoral degrees in English from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

They're anomalies. While the nation has almost 50 million Latinos, according to 2011 census data, it can boast only 174,000 who have Ph.D.s, less than 1 percent of all Latinos of all races.

The number remains low even though Latinos account for 14 percent of those in higher education, said Deborah Santiago of the Washington-based Excelencia in Education, whose mission is to accelerate higher-education attainment among Latinos.

“It's clear Latinos are primed and ready to go,” she said. READ MORE

The video game industry is ever expanding and according to an article by The New York Times’ Nick Bolton, will reach $112 billion in consumer spending money by the year 2015.

Blizzard’s World of Warcraft alone nets millions of dollars a month in pure profit. The game costs $15 per month for each of the 12 million users to play, on top of the original cost of the game software. As one can imagine, Blizzard is not wanting for cash. However, not all games are as popular or profitable as World of Warcraft.

With new games constantly emerging and different games trending every week, competition in the industry is tough. Action, adventure, logic — the list of genres goes on and on. There are so many online games to choose from, it seems every group, large or small, needs to be individually and specifically targeted.

Take Latina youth, for example.

Girls from Latinitas, a nonprofit media and technology club in Southwest Texas, were surveyed about their preferences on gaming. An overwhelming majority responded that they enjoyed playing games from Cool Math. In fact, math and puzzle games seemed to be a popular choice no matter the game’s source.

The girls are interested in games which help them grow as students. Gaming companies might want to consider creating more educational math and puzzle games if the plan is to reach a Latina youth audience. READ MORE

As a member of the Spanish-language media for years, I am familiar with the occasional demand to “speak English.” Well, in fact, the fastest-growing segment of the Latino population is doing precisely that. Media businesses are deploying the all-American strategy of reaching out to an emerging market with strong buying power, and they’re doing it, naturalmente, in English.

In the last two weeks, major media companies have launched or made public efforts to tap into English-speaking and culturally integrated Latinos nationwide. On May 1, the magazine Cosmopolitan for Latinas was introduced across the country with great fanfare. And last Tuesday, media giants Univision and ABC announced joint plans to unveil a 24-hour news channel in English for Latinos in 2013, with a matching website scheduled to go live this summer. READ MORE

Supporters of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline are now billing it as a top political issue for Hispanic voters — the latest bid to spur the administration’s approval of the project.

On Tuesday, the American Petroleum Institute joined with the Hispanic Leadership Fund to call for President Barack Obama to issue a cross-border permit allowing construction of the pipeline that would connect oil sands projects in Alberta, Canada with refineries along the Gulf Coast.

“At a time like now where our country is hurting economically… this is something that is important to our members from a jobs perspective,” said Mario Lopez, president of the Hispanic Leadership Fund. “Even in the states where the pipeline doesn’t pass through, a number of studies have shown the number of jobs that would be created are significant.”

“Latinos have been especially hurt by the economic downturn,” Lopez added, noting that the unemployment rate among Hispanics is hovering about 1 to 2 points higher than the national average.

Marty Durbin, API’s executive vice president, added that the project would put thousands of skilled workers to work almost immediately. READ MORE