Communications and business students studying the state of Hispanic media and marketing can learn from industry experts at the Feb. 16-18 Hispanic/Latino Media and Marketing International Conference at Cal State Fullerton.

The CSUF College of Communications, its Latino Communications Initiative and the Maxwell Center for International Communications will host the conference, which is focused on helping community leaders improve communication, relate and connect with Hispanic populations.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2500.0"] Inez Gonzalez, director of the Latino Communications Initiative at Cal State Fullerton, is co-chair of the planning committee for the Hispanic/Latino Media and Marketing International Conference to be held Feb. 16-18 at Cal State Fullerton.[/caption]

More than 20 presenters will examine such topics as: media, advertising, integrated marketing communications, marketing, public relations, media adoption and culture. It’s billed as the largest meeting of academics, media professionals and students from universities in Spain, Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States.

It’s also the first time the 6-year-old conference has ventured to the West Coast, said Inez Gonzalez, director of the CSUF Latino Communications Initiative, who co-chairs the conference’s planning committee, with Dean Kazoleas, CSUF professor of communications.

“As the university that graduates the most Latinos earning bachelor’s degrees in communications nationwide, it makes sense that we bring academics and professionals around the country and the world to discuss these important issues with our students,” Gonzales said.

Five CSUF communications students working as a team are gaining work experience as interns — planning and publicizing the conference, Gonzalez said.

At the conference, consumer monitor Nielsen is set to share the latest trends in Hispanic demographics, consumption and media behavior, including a close look at the Latino electorate. Industry experts will address the current state of Hispanic marketing, the industry challenges and job outlook in an opening panel titled “The State of Latino/Hispanic Media and Marketing.”

Additional details are available online, including the conference program and registration. Registration fee is $250 for professionals and faculty members, or $125 for one day. CSUF students may attend for $45, other students for $99.