Liliana Soto is a distinguished, award-winning journalist with a deep commitment to serving her community. Now, she’s stepping into a new role as Press Secretary for Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs.
Born and raised in Caborca, Sonora, Mexico, Liliana moved to the U.S. at 17 and later earned her degree from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at ASU. Her journalism journey spans over a decade, during which she became a notable figure in broadcast news, particularly for her work in both English and Spanish media.
Her dedication to amplifying the voices of marginalized voices and passion for investigative journalism earned her widespread recognition. “When I decided to do journalism, I realized how much of a gap there was for the Latino community that only spoke Spanish,” she recalls, “So, I really wanted to make sure the information I had access to as a reporter was sent to my community in a way that they could understand it. Being concise, clear and factual.”
This fueled her to establish a Spanish-language section on ABC15’s website, while being the station’s first multimedia journalist to report in both languages.
Liliana also thrived in academia, teaching full-time at the University of Arizona. And now, an unexpected call to public service proved irresistible, leading her to join Governor Hobbs’ team.
“I had a lot of fears about whether I was ready to make a switch like this,” she said. “But, as someone who had to work her way in this country, coming from nothing, not knowing English, I knew that opportunities like this one – they don’t knock on your door every day. Ultimately, I felt like there was a call for me to serve the people of Arizona at a different capacity.”
Balancing a demanding career with motherhood has been one of Liliana’s proudest achievements. “My biggest accomplishment has been able to raise my daughter through it all,” she said. She acknowledges the importance of a strong support system, crediting her husband for helping her navigate the complexities of being a working mom.
For Liliana, the transition to a new role is both a challenge and an opportunity to continue her advocacy on a larger scale. She believes that journalism is a career, not an identity, and encourages others to remain open to change and growth.
“It’s important for younger generations of journalists to know that journalism is not our identity, it’s a career,” she explains. “There’s nothing wrong with exploring other career paths, reinventing yourself and facing new challenges. It makes you grow.”
As she steps into her new role, Liliana is excited about what lies ahead, embracing the unknown with the same passion and determination that’s defined her career. “It’s so exciting for me,” she said. “Not knowing what comes next, but knowing that whatever it is, I’m going to be ready and I’m going to tackle it.”
