A new site launched today aims to reach the growing number of people reading news in Spanish. It will curate and translate Times articles while also publishing original content.
Research on communication in public health crises shows that ethnic news consumption impacts source credibility among minority groups. This study investigates the role of this phenomenon during the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S.
Impact
Politicians and academics have noted how political misinformation disproportionately affects Spanish-speaking communities for many years. The reason is fairly simple: quality, reliable journalism in their language is scarce and underfunded. As a result, the community is susceptible to disinformation campaigns that undermine democratic institutions or negatively influence information about health, immigration, voting rights and more.
Journalists who speak Spanish have a unique advantage in the marketplace: they can connect with communities that are often ignored or overlooked. By reporting on stories that reflect the local culture and experiences of Latinos, they can provide a voice to those who otherwise might be left unheard.
The program prepares students to serve the nation’s growing population of Latinos, who are eager to see their lives and cultures represented in the media. The graduates add nuance, sensibility and depth to any newsroom.
They also know that Latinos identify with the communities they serve and view their journalists as champions for those communities. This is unsurprising given that most Spanish-language news outlets are mainstream U.S. newspapers’ Hispanic or Latino sister publications.
Reach
The most effective way to reach Latino audiences is through news and entertainment that speaks directly to their concerns. This includes topics about immigration, education, health and more. While the mainstream media has a role in providing these stories, Spanish-language news outlets are also emerging as strong voices for their communities.
When researching or staying informed about current events in the Spanish-speaking world, accessing Spanish language newspaper articles becomes an invaluable resource for individuals seeking news, insights, and cultural perspectives in their preferred language.
Journalists need to understand the needs of their audiences and how they can be met. This is especially important during public health crises when misinformation disproportionately affects certain communities. For example, recent research has found that Hispanics trust Spanish-language media more than Whites to provide accurate information about infectious disease outbreaks.
Many news outlets are trying to better serve their audiences by increasing their Spanish-language science journalism. This is a good start, but barriers still need to be addressed. These include the need to recruit and train more science reporters fluent in Spanish and broader awareness among newsrooms about the size of the Hispanic population in the United States.
Audience
Whether it’s reporting on immigration policy or local community events, newspapers continue to see a growing demand for journalists who can write in one, two or even three languages. In fact, according to experts, bilingual remote jobs have spiked 30% since the start of the pandemic.
Media professionals must be prepared to provide accurate information for all audiences in a world where misinformation can spread quickly. This is especially true when it comes to Latino communities, who are often the targets of false or misleading information. Research has found that Latinos trust Spanish-language content and news more than other media types.
As the demand for bilingual journalism increases, so does the need to better prepare students for careers in this field. The bilingual Spanish-language journalism master’s degree is the first of its kind, combining a career-ready curriculum with an emphasis on cultural knowledge and the convergence of current genres, formats, and technologies.
This program, which includes courses from Spanish, International Relations, and Latino/Latina Studies and departments, is designed to help students understand the complexities of the Latino/Latina communities they will serve as professional journalists. It also helps students develop a strong foundation in English and Spanish to reach a diverse range of audience members effectively. In addition, the program offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience working in bilingual journalism, nightly television and online news publication that serves Arizona’s Hispanic community.
Language
Spanish-language news organizations often have a deep connection with the communities they serve. Many of these outlets have been champions for their communities’ rights and aspirations. This is a welcome sight when mistrust of the news media is rising. The research also indicates that the most trusted source of information among Hispanics is news in their language. This may be due to their strong sense of identity within the community and familiarity with the language.
However, it is important to note that not all Hispanics are bilingual. Some, especially younger generations, rely exclusively on English for their news. This makes it crucial to develop a strategy that effectively engages older, bilingual audiences and those who do not speak or read Spanish.
In addition to language, the news content of Spanish-language outlets can vary greatly by region and audience. For example, in Los Angeles, televised news stories tend to focus heavily on border issues such as immigration and the Catholic Church scandal.
L.A. has one of the largest Spanish-speaking populations in the country and is home to the television networks. Both stations aired multiple multi-part investigative reports on immigration and the human side of the border. While these stories resonated with Latinos, they could have been more impactful in other markets.
