With over a decade of experience in media and publishing, Thatiana Diaz is the Editor-in-Chief of Remezcla and HipLatina, where she spearheads editorial strategy focused on authentically portraying and amplifying Latine voices. Previously, Diaz led the launch of the Latina-led cross-platform channel, Somos, at Refinery29 and created Chica, Meredith’s first brand targeting Latina millennials, at People en Español and People. She remains a prominent voice in the media industry, serving as an expert and speaker and has appeared on-stage at Cannes Lions 2024 with The Female Quotient and Tubi, Digiday’s Publishing Summit, and more. Diaz is also the host of “Down to a T,” an unfiltered and culturally relevant podcast that aims to entertain and take listeners away from the often serious online landscape.

How many years have you been a judge?

This is my first year!

What excited you about judging for the Telly Awards?

Honestly, getting to be exposed to work across so many different industries. In my day-to-day, I’m deeply immersed in culture, entertainment, and community storytelling — so seeing how other creators, brands, and teams are pushing their lanes forward is genuinely inspiring. I love being reminded of how much creativity exists outside my own bubble. It’s rare to sit down and watch work purely for the craft, not for coverage or deadlines.

What was your first job in the industry? What did it teach you?

My first job was at a CD and DVD rental store — yes, back when physical rentals were still a thing. It taught me how much thought goes into choosing a piece of media. People would browse, hesitate, debate, ask questions. It showed me early on that storytelling is emotional, personal, and tied to how people want to feel in a given moment. I think that shaped the way I approach content even now.

What project are you most proud to have worked on?

Launching the beauty vertical for Remezcla. Not only did it open the door for a new lane of storytelling on our site and socials, but we launched it with Sephora and brought that vision to life IRL with an event in NYC. That moment felt significant — creating a beauty space rooted in Latine identity, culture, and perspective, and giving our community a voice in a category where we’ve historically been overlooked.

What’s the most challenging part about your job and/or the industry?

The ever-changing landscape. Platforms shift, formats evolve, and algorithms rewrite themselves every five minutes. But it also keeps us on our toes. We’re constantly learning and adjusting.

What do you look for to determine excellence in video?

Quality and innovation. There’s so much video out there. We’re all scrolling past hundreds every day. So, I always ask: What makes this one stand out? It doesn’t have to be the biggest production; it just has to feel intentional. Strong storytelling, clean editing, a clear point of view, and something that makes me feel like I’m watching a creator or team who knew exactly what they wanted to say.

What are your current roles and responsibilities and what do you love most about your job?

I oversee editorial and creative strategy for Latine media brands Remezcla & HipLatina, but the part I love most is developing future voices. Helping emerging writers, editors, and creators find their tone, build confidence, and take up space feels like the most meaningful part of what I do. There’s nothing better than watching someone grow and realize their ideas matter.

What initiatives or projects are you working on now that excite you?

We have exciting plans for 2026 that I can’t reveal yet — but they’re big, intentional, and tied to expanding how and where we tell our stories.

Do you have any specific practices you lean on to spark creativity?

Logging off and taking breaks. Everyone assumes consuming more media will spark ideas, but sometimes the opposite is true: too much noise can blur your own voice. Stepping away usually brings me back sharper.

What inspired you to pursue your career path?

Aside from a love for storytelling, it was not seeing myself represented. I knew I wanted to change that, and I wanted other people, especially young Latinas, to see themselves reflected in media in ways I didn’t growing up.

In your experience, what is a significant change you are seeing happen in the video, television, and/or film industry, and what insight can you share about how to navigate it?

The shift in accessibility. Anyone can send a DM, learn how to edit online, and create something compelling. The tools are there. The biggest insight is to stay adaptable: learn the platforms, learn the tech, learn the audience. The people thriving right now are the ones willing to evolve with the industry instead of waiting for it to slow down.