What now

How to continue the Latino voter discussion in public media after the 2024 election

The phrase “not a monolith” is often used as a comfortable shorthand for Hispanic voters. But, when it gets real, this notion unfolds in ways that require public media to step up and promote deeper understanding.

This election saw marked Latinx gains for the GOP despite controversial statements by President-elect Donald Trump. Massive Spanish-language ad buys seemed to do nothing for Vice President Kamala Harris. By every measure, Hispanic voters broke with tradition—and broke brains in the process.

The 2024 election has spotlighted the evolving perspectives of Hispanic voters in the United States—complexities the major political parties will need to address moving forward. And, as media, we’ll need to listen too.

In fact, public media has a critical role to play in these discussions. Even with Election Day over, conversation around voter priorities and political/class fissures can help the public to hear diverse perspectives. Your audience will appreciate that local voices are neither ignored nor simplified.

Here are some ways public media can effectively extend dialogues beyond Nov. 5. 👇🏼

Less vibes, more reporting

The ensuing discourse around Latine voters has been frankly terrible. How ‘voting against their interests’ hectoring, machismo stereotypes and suggestions of mass Hispanic racism — all generations-old anti-Latino tropes — get an audience in 2024 is shocking. The Great Transformation is among those to debunk these claims. Black Enterprise even started speaking up on all the conjecture.

Public media has a responsibility to assess elections, while interrogating racist and false analyses about Latinx voters. The rush to infantilize instead of understand this bloc presents a missed opportunity. Asking more questions and collecting data about our communities will prove most beneficial long term.

Expanding coverage on economic concerns

One of the clearest takeaways from this election is the prominence of economic issues for Latino/a voters. Hispanic support for President-elect Donald Trump was driven in many quarters by financial concerns now versus in prior years. Similarly, while immigration has often been a big issue for Latinx voters, this year saw a shift, with some supporting stricter border policies due to resource strains in local communities.

Public media can build on these topics by providing in-depth conversations on trends affecting Latino communities. Offering firsthand stories can shed light on how policy changes affect daily life. Highlighting both national and regional challenges such as affordable housing and employment opportunities may offer a comprehensive look at how voters’ lives are directly impacted.

If you’re already doing that and aren’t seeing the engagement you want, it’s possibly time to review.

Changing the dialogue from utility

Hispanic voters are often discussed as uncommitted constituency, rather than as active participants in American democracy. More stories of civic engagement, especially among younger generations, may help shift the narrative from one of political utility to one of dynamic citizenship… and build trust.

Addressing generational and cultural differences

Generational and national-origin divides bear discussion. For example, while younger Latino voters and men showed a marked shift toward Trump, Latinas predominantly supported Harris. Additionally, voters from different backgrounds — Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Venezuelan, among others — bring varied political experiences and expectations.

Also, language has increasingly become a factor in how Latine voters view political parties. Terms like Latinx, while embraced in certain circles, have proven unpopular among many Latinos. Cultural strategist Evelyn Pérez-Verdía notes that disconnects over labels can contribute to feelings of political alienation.

Looking at Hispanic engagement locally

Some heavily Latino areas saw a rightward shift. This includes areas that traditionally favored Democrats. Now that polling is coming in, public media can play a role in fostering localized engagement.

Latinx voters in these regions cited many issues as reasons for their support of Trump. Addressing these local dynamics calls for creating spaces and inviting local leaders and residents to participate. In doing so, public media can offer a place where the community drives conversations about their priorities and concerns.

Finalmente

For organizations, watching local sociopolitical developments and truly looking at what we can do better are going to be crucial actions.

In the Atlantic (and later Plain English), Derek Thompson investigates how post-covid politics may have played a role in 2024. The BBC is among those exploring how a range of cultural and economic conflicts shape American politics. Axios counters this idea somewhat by raising perceptions of systemic dysfunction and its effect on voting.

Addressing economic, cultural and generational differences and fostering discussion are essential right now for public media. Organizations can support an engaged Latino community by listening as we never have before. The future calls on public media to have more to offer than confidence in our position. Building vital relationships requires us to do more than to tell Latinos how wrong they are. How public media chooses to walk that path will have implications well beyond 2024. 🟢

Cafecito: stories to discuss ☕

• Hurricane response. NPR covers Blue Ridge Public Radio’s efforts to serve Spanish-speaking audiences amid disaster. 🔊

• New Mexico learnings. The New Mexico Local News Fund worked with 17 newsrooms in the state and discovered a range of ways these organizations are serving a state that’s around 50 percent Hispanic. ✏️ AI and community funding are among the more intriguing wins.

• Data debate. KUNR is among outlets noting that there are contentions about how Latino men voted this year, with allegations exit polling is wrong. 🙋

• Youth Radio done. YR Media, responsible for training hundreds of young people in the art of audio, has laid off its staff and closed. Oaklandside has more. 🚪

El radar: try this 📡

• Highlight interpreters during elections. Efforts by local and nonpartisan groups helped provide Spanish-language support, including interpreters and transportation, across New Hampshire. 📣 However, as New Hampshire Public Radio highlights, the need is still great for more state resources to support non-English-speaking voters.

• More election highlights. WBEZ offers local coverage of Hispanic voters. The Boston Globe notes the media sources Latino voters relied on this year. El Tecolote weaves a fundraising pitch in their analysis. 🎙️

• Check local museums for Latine stories. Alaska Public Media covers an Anchorage museum’s effort to chronicle Alaska’s Hispanic history. Easy enough to see what local institutions are up to? Similar story at WWLP and KVUE. 🎨

• Explore how Latin America’s economy affects residents. The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean just released a new report that finds poverty has declined to levels similar to 2014. How are locals and business owners with ties there feeling about it? 💸

The next OIGO arrives Dec. 6. Join Paige Robnett and I next week for a discussion with DEI visionary Andrea G. Tatum about effective DEI Councils. Register here.

I’m keynoting the University of California Radio Network conference tomorrow, speaking to students about life after college radio. 🗝️ It’s such an honor to address these future media leaders. You can follow me on LinkedIn for updates.

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