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Jack Rico | Journalist, Commentator, Storyteller

JACK RICO

Journalist || Commentator || Storyteller

I’m Jack Rico, an entertainment journalist, multicultural storyteller, media strategist, podcaster, TV host, and producer with over two decades covering Latinos in mainstream media and entertainment. Right now, you can catch me on ABC News’ primetime special, Latinos in Hollywood: Owning Our Destiny, streaming on Hulu, where we highlight how Latinos have shaped and continue to shape American cinema.

As the Managing Partner of New Majority Ready, I lead New Majority Storytelling, where I focus on developing and producing multicultural content for film, television, and digital platforms.

Our Brown & Black podcast was a 2022 Webby honoree, 2023 Webby nominee, and 2024 Signal Award Gold winner for conversations about race and pop culture through a Latino and Black lens. I also seasonally host Highly Relevant, featuring in-depth interviews with Latinos influencing mainstream culture today.

Over the years, I’ve contributed to outlets like NBC’s TODAY Show, MSNBC, VH1, Telemundo, and Univision, and my insights have been quoted in The Washington Post, Bloomberg, People, BuzzFeed News, and NBC News. Throughout my career, I’ve interviewed some of the most influential voices in the industry, including George Lopez, Shakira, Robert Rodriguez, and Alfonso Cuaron.

From my early work as a founding anchor on Univision’s Al Despertar, New York City’s first Spanish-language morning newscast, to hosting NBC and Telemundo’s Emmy-nominated Consumer 101, I’m also proud to have founded and chaired Viva Broadway, the first Latino initiative of The Broadway League.

I have lectured as an Adjunct Professor of Entertainment Journalism at Montclair State University, where I mentored the next generation of storytellers and cultural critics.

I am a member of the Television Academy, the IADAS, and the Critics Choice Association, and have been honored by the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

“They say that the best thing in life is to marry the thing you’re the best at with the thing you love the most.” – JR

TV Appearances

‘Latinos in Hollywood’ 2024 (ABC News Primetime Special)

Univision (El Gordo y La Flaca) Junio 2023

(WPIX11 ‘New York Living’) 2023 Summer Movie Preview

WPIX11 New York Living Oscar Nominations: Snubs and Surprises

PaleyFest Fall TV Previews 2022 Lopez vs. Lopez

2022 Emmy Nominations WPIX11 New York Living

HBO Max The Flight Attendant S2 Premiere Event Interview

Talking Pictures with Neil Rosen April 2022

The Changeup Jackie Hernandez & Jack Rico, New Majority Ready

Listen now

Latino USA Podcast Lights, Camera, Accion: A Latino Take on the 2022 Oscars

TODAY Show Get Inspired With These 2022 Podcast Recommendations

Talking Pictures with Neil Rosen January 2022

Snapshots

Jack Rico speaking on stage at a media event Jack Rico with Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford Jack Rico on a Consumer 101 production set
Jack Rico with a television host Jack Rico interviewing a guest on a green screen set Jack Rico in an NBC News interview
Jack Rico on MSNBC Jack Rico in a studio panel conversation Jack Rico on the Academy Gold set
Jack Rico moderating a conversation with Jessica Chastain Jack Rico moderating a stage conversation with Josh Radnor
Jack Rico moderating an HBO Latino panel Jack Rico at a television event

Hoda & Kathie Lee, Consumer 101, Megyn Kelly, Nick Lachey, NBCNews.com, MSNBC, Fusion, NY1, Arise Network, moderating Jessica Chastain, Josh Radnor, HBO Latino, HBO Max, and more.

Publications

Press Quotes

People (October 2024)

People article excerpt quoting Jack Rico about Eva Longoria and representation

(NBC News) ‘A Radio Icon Who Helped Usher Latin Music’s Rise Is Remembered’

NBC News article about radio icon Polito Vega quoting Jack Rico
NBC News, March 14, 2023
“When you talk about radio history, and the birth of salsa and being a DJ and promoter at same time, that was Polito Vega,” entertainment reporter Jack Rico told NBC News.

(NBC News) ‘Raquel Welch Was A 'Stealth' Latina Until She Wasn't’

NBC News article about Raquel Welch quoting Jack Rico
NBC News, Feb. 15, 2023
“She rediscovered her roots, embraced her roots when the times changed,” said the entertainment journalist and podcast host Jack Rico.

(NBC News) ‘Several 2023 Golden Globe Nominees Are Young and Latino’

NBC News article about young Latino Golden Globe nominees
NBC News, Jan. 9, 2023
“The conversation this year is, we made it into the lead,” said Latino film critic Jack Rico.

(The Washington Post) ‘What’s next for Latin music after the summer of ‘Despacito’?’

Washington Post illustration for Latin music after Despacito
The Washington Post, Aug. 2017
Mass-media moments are critical to representation, Rico argued, because consumer acceptance changes when media embraces artists, language, and culture.
Read More

(Bloomberg) ‘Crazy Rich’ Success Leaves Latinos Waiting for Their Moment

Bloomberg segment about Crazy Rich Asians and Latino representation
Bloomberg News, Aug. 2018
“The people in charge, mostly, are non-Hispanic people and they are the ones with the power to approve and greenlight Latino stories,” said Jack Rico.
Read More

Here’s a look at some other outlets I have written for.

People en Espanol magazine page with Jack Rico work ShowBizCafe article written by Jack Rico Variety Latino article quoting Jack Rico

People en Espanol Magazine, ShowBizCafe.com, NBCNews.com, VarietyLatino

Highly Relevant Podcast

Highly Relevant Podcast

I host the Apple featured Highly Relevant podcast. A Latino pop culture show whose premise is to identify and explain how Latino creatives are influencing and reshaping American pop culture. I do that by speaking with the most highly relevant newsmakers of the week, along with the nation’s most respected and influential journalists about what they see and why it matters. You can expect incisive and insightful commentary, thought-provoking interviews and curated recommendations about what you should watch, read and listen to. This is a podcast for people who want an inside glimpse at what American pop culture really looks like in 2020. Have a listen via iTunes,
Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, or Pandora, and of course, all in your phone 🎧!

My Podcast Guests

Highly Relevant podcast guest portrait Highly Relevant guest image Highly Relevant guest still Highly Relevant guest portrait Highly Relevant guest collage

Guests of the podcast include filmmakers, actors, artists, activists, and culture makers shaping American entertainment.

IN CLOSING…

Let’s connect!

If you’d like a look at my most recent work (interviews, think pieces, podcast shows), you can request that in the email below.

Email: jrico@showbizcafe.com

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