NPR's Felix Contreras opened minds to Latin alternative music. He's finally getting his due
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation named Contreras as a recipient of the 2025 Hispanic Heritage Award for journalism on Thursday, one of several honors bestowed on notable public figures for their accomplishments and cultural contributions to the Latino communities.
Past awardees at the Hispanic Heritage Awards include Bad Bunny, America Ferrera, Becky G, J Balvin and others; Contreras is one of the few journalists to receive the esteemed honor, one he says is hard for him to accept.
'We learn early on that [journalists] are not supposed to be the story,' explains Contreras in a phone call with The Times. 'That's the largest stumbling block as to why I'm having a difficult time accepting this accolade.'
Known among friends and colleagues as 'Tío Felix,' a familial term of endearment, Contreras has been a dedicated reporter for close to 50 years. Born and raised in Sacramento, he began his journalistic career as a TV news photographer for the NBC affiliate station in Fresno until 1998, later transitioning to NBC News in Miami.
'My point has always been to tell our Latino stories through the news, good or bad,' he says.
Contreras began working for NPR in 2001 as a producer and reporter for the news arts desk. In 2010, he co-created the innovative 'Alt.Latino' radio program and podcast alongside NPR's current immigration correspondent Jasmine Garsd. It was a way to fill the dearth of coverage of alternative Latino music — Spanish-language stations gave little airtime to alternative rock groups such as Los Fabulosos Cadillacs or Café Tacvba, says Contreras. Their first guest on the show was a young, then-burgeoning artist from Colombia named Juanes, who appeared just after releasing his debut album, 'Fíjate Bien.'
At first, it was an uphill battle to get artists to recognize the podcast's cultural significance. ' We had to beg people to send us their CDs,' Contreras admits.
Now in its 15th year, 'Alt.Latino' has become a go-to hub for Latin music enthusiasts looking to learn more on the rise of musica mexicana, the rumblings of Latin jazz, the transformation of Latin rock and more.
'Independent artists, alternative artists, even some pop artists now consider 'Alt.Latino' and NPR as a viable source to get their artist seen or heard,' Contreras says.
To this day, Contreras continues in his role as co-host of 'Alt.Latino,' now alongside Tiny Desk producer Anamaria Sayre, who says she cried when she heard Contreras was being recognized.
' Felix created space for us in the music media landscape in where there wasn't previously,' says Sayre, who has been working with Contreras since 2023. 'He did it with no one telling him that what he was doing was valuable.'
The 38th annual Hispanic Heritage Awards will take place on Sept. 4 at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C.
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