New York, NY -- Univision Communications Inc., the nation’s leading Spanish-language media company, and the University of Miami, one of the top research universities in the U.S., will hold two historic forums that will focus exclusively on the issues of particular interest to the Hispanic community, which comprises the fastest growing segment of the U.S. electorate. The events will be broadcast in primetime on the most significant Spanish-language media outlets in the country – Univision’s television, radio and online platforms.

The Democratic candidates participating in the forum, in alphabetical order are: Senator Joe Biden, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Chris Dodd, Senator John Edwards, Senator Mike Gravel, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Senator Barack Obama and Governor Bill Richardson. The Democratic Candidate Forum will be held on Sunday, September 9th at the University of Miami’s BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida.
 
“Univision is excited and honored to be part of the first-ever Presidential Candidate Forum designed specifically for Hispanic Americans – addressing the issues that matter most to the Hispanic community, via a seamless simultaneous Spanish translation,”  said Joe Uva, CEO, Univision Communications Inc.  “I am extremely pleased that we have received such tremendous interest from the Presidential candidates.  To be able to announce such an impressive list of participants for the Democratic forum is very gratifying and a testament to the pivotal role the rapidly growing Hispanic electorate will play in this Presidential election. This historic event is part of Univision’s sustained commitment to inform and educate Hispanic voters about the electoral process and the candidates in this crucial Presidential election.”

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our students at the University of Miami,” said Donna E. Shalala, President of the University of Miami. “The diversity at the University and our Miami-Dade community make this the perfect site for these events.”

The 90-minute Democratic Presidential Candidate Forum will be broadcast live in primetime on the Univision Network, RadioCadena Univision and online at Univision.com. The forum will be moderated by Univision’s award-winning and highly respected network news anchors Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas.

The number of Hispanic registered voters has increased 50% over the last decade, making it the fastest growing segment of the U.S. electorate.

A Republican candidate forum is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 16th, additional details to follow in the coming weeks.

Univision Communications Inc.
Univision Communications Inc. is the premier Spanish-language media company in the United States.  Its operations include Univision Network, the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the U.S. reaching 99% of U.S. Hispanic Households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network, which was launched in 2002 and now reaches 89% of U.S. Hispanic Households; Galavisión, the country’s leading Spanish-language cable network; Univision Television Group, which owns and operates 62 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group which owns and/or operates 70 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and 5 stations in Puerto Rico; Univision Music Group, which includes Univision Records, Fonovisa Records, La Calle Records and Mexico-based Disa Records as well as Fonomusic and America Musical Publishing companies; and Univision Online, the premier Spanish-language Internet destination in the U.S. located at www.univision.com.  Univision Communications also has a 50% interest in TuTv, a joint venture formed to broadcast Televisa’s pay television channels in the U.S., and a non-voting 14.9% interest in Entravision Communications Corporation, a public Spanish-language media company. Univision Communications 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.

University of Miami
The University of Miami is one of the nation's leading research universities with more than 15,600 undergraduate and graduate students from around the world. Founded in 1925, UM has grown from its main campus in the city of Coral Gables to include the Miller School of Medicine campus located near downtown Miami, the internationally renowned Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science campus on Virginia Key, and the South and Richmond campuses in southwest Miami-Dade County. The University’s vast and energetic research enterprise attracted more than $274 million in external funding in FY 2007. Its top-ranked medical school, which has internationally renowned programs in several specialties, is a key local health care resource, with its 800 faculty physicians handling 1 million patient visits annually. Led by President Donna E. Shalala, UM is accelerating its progress in all key areas, including fundraising: in 2006 the Momentum campaign reached its initial $1 billion goal 18 months ahead of schedule, and the campaign recently surpassed its subsequent $1.25 billion goal, hitting $1.31 billion.  Over the past 5 years, UM’s selectivity in undergraduate admissions has increased dramatically, as have the undergraduate programs, with a multitude of opportunities for undergraduates to engage in research.  In addition, the University is committed to strengthening its graduate programs by increasing the number of Ph.D. candidates across the disciplines and schools.  UM played host to the first-ever Presidential Debate in the State of Florida in 2004 and is one of the finalists to host a Presidential Debate in 2008 to be decided by the Commission on Presidential Debates later this fall.  For more information on the University of Miami, visit www.miami.edu.
 
 
 

Contact: Rosemary Mercedes
Univision Communications Inc.
212-455-5335
marketingcomm@univision.net

Margot Winick
University of Miami
305-284-5500
mwinick@miami.edu