In July 2023, the Solutions Journalism Network’s Local Media Project initiated the Latino Local News Collaborative, a collaborative experiment with the urgency to explore the issue of electoral participation among Latino communities.
The Latino Local News Collaborative, comprised of Claudia Amaro, Planeta Venus in Wichita, KS, Jennie Dallas, La Voz Latina Central in Central Pennsylvania, Edgar Ramirez Philatinos Radio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Jesus del Toro La Raza in Chicago, IL), along with Emma Restrepo and Julian Carreno, 2PuntosPlatform in Philadelphia, PA as coordination team. The group was supported by Liza Gross and Alex Frost from Solutions Journalism Network.
The collaborative designed a survey to measure interest in voting among Latino populations in their localities and, in general, learn and measure attitudes towards politics in the country.
This consortium of hyperlocal news outlets had each outlet include questions specific to regional informational needs and specific community groups, such as Latinos with or without United States citizenship, first or second-generation immigrants, or both.
Each local media outlet executed the survey with which it decided the best option to be for its community. Some surveyed in-person at cultural events, others online, others hosted focus groups, and others combined more than one of these proposals. “This collaboration has provided new insights into Latino residents’ feelings about voting in Pennsylvania and other states,” said Dallas from La Voz, after obtaining the results of the consolidated report. “The language barrier is one of the reasons why Latinos are disconnected. Interested entities would be wise to use hyperlocal news organizations to reach the same audience we reached to conclude this report.
The larger media focuses on the federal aspects, which is what Latinos are NOT interested in hearing. La Voz Latina Central and the rest of the LLNC members could play a vital role in providing a sample of objective information on the Latino votes.” The collaborative proved valuable not only for the survey results but also for the nature of the research group. “The experience of working together in this project supported by Solutions Journalism Network to present a common but at the same time diverse perspective about the Latino voters in three different states has been significant to us because it enriches our understanding of voting behavior, puts us in contact with great colleagues, and opens new opportunities of collaboration,” said Del Toro of La Raza.
Gross, part of the Solutions Journalism’s team, values the connection of these media with their communities. “The mainstream media coverage of views and attitudes of U.S. Hispanics towards political candidates and the voting process does not always provide fresh and nuanced insights,” she said. “This project by Hispanic community journalists deeply embedded in their communities offers revealing perspectives that add new clarity and understanding of this crucial voting bloc going into a presidential election year.”
Some local and hyperlocal media knew each other before being part of this experience; others didn’t. However, a safe conversation space in meetings was quickly built, sometimes in Spanish, sometimes in English, and sometimes jumping from one language to another. “Collaboration among media partners might sound daunting,” remarked Amaro from Planeta Venus.
“In this case, it was fun and created trust among members. The project’s results were enriched by the different perspectives. Latino communities are not homogeneous, and this collaboration demonstrates this by bringing together differences and similarities in the Latino Vote in different parts of the U.S.” The four reports were consolidated and analyzed with the help of Mariela Morales, a PhD candidate in Communication at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. «It has been a privilege to assist The Latino Local News Collaborative, LLNC, in producing the final report of their research findings,” Morales said I have learned a great deal from their dedication to research and their commitment to their communities’ needs.»
Currently working in three states, the group is looking to expand with Latino outlets participants from states where Latinos historically don’t count as a minority. In January, the group LLNC began producing a radio show dedicated to the topic. “The experience of meeting and sharing has been very valuable, and we hope that many listen to the radio program on the subject, linking three states: Illinois, Kansas and Pennsylvania.,” said Ramirez from Philatinos Radio. “We have all agreed on the need to be an integral part of the country’s political affairs, which occur with minimal participation by first-generation Latinos, and which is mainly due to the absence of information and conversation spaces.” By linking up once a month, the group hopes to contribute a grain of space to the awakening of the “sleeping giant” that is the Latino Vote.
