It's only getting worse
Why the immigration enforcement crisis demands public media show up differently
The United States is in the midst of an immigration enforcement disaster unlike anything in recent memory. Mass raids, record deportations, asylum denials, street violence, threats of National Guard deployment in response to protests and a tangle of shifting federal and state policies have created chaos and fear for millions of people. The stories behind those headlines are often complex and deeply human, but too often they go untold or are filtered through national political frames that flatten their nuance.
For public media, this is not a moment to freeze or to retreat. It is an opportunity to step out and make the most of this time.
Public media was founded on the promise of civic service. To inform, educate and involve the public is what we’re here to do. But when it comes to immigration, that service cannot stop at policy explainers or reactive news. Public media organizations are being tested on whether we can meet communities where they are, earn their trust, and report with them, not just about them.
The immigration enforcement crisis underscores that now, more than ever, public media has a moment to do new and attention-grabbing work. Whether stations invest in community-rooted reporting that makes accountability clear to audiences or produce journalism that is accessible, multilingual and grounded in lived experience, public media has both the mission and the momentum to do more. I believe in us.
“Good talk, Ernesto,” you may say. “But how?”
This OIGO is about those shining examples to learn from. The good news is that organizations like Altavoz Lab, the Latino Media Consortium and LatidoBeat are already proving what’s possible. Prepare to be inspired by examples of what happens when journalists are empowered to report from within their communities, not from outside them. This work provides a blueprint for what public media could be doing consistently.
Strengthening local journalism at the roots
In moments of fear and uncertainty, people turn less to national pundits, but to the people who’ve earned their confidence.
Altavoz Lab’s example is simple but transformative: mentor and support local reporters. It puts effort into support systems that produce accountability and service journalism for communities that have been historically overlooked or misrepresented. The organization’s fellowship program is intended to lift up place-based journalists who are of those places, trusted by their audiences, and able to ask questions that outsiders don’t even know to ask.
Since its founding in 2022, Altavoz has supported journalists in California, Illinois, Florida, New York and Puerto Rico. If you’re watching the news feed, you know these regions are on the frontlines of the immigration debate. Fellows have produced stories that connect immigration policy to the daily realities of housing, labor and healthcare, and their work might give you ideas you can try in your organization. To me, the best part of these stories is that they tend to do more than report problems. Observe the ways stories are crafted to spark engagement.
Maybe your organization already has or would like to create a fellowship program. You may find Altavoz’s model of mentorship and local capacity-building offers lessons to fuel your aspirations. Stations could also be developing partnerships with organizations like Altavoz to bring these fellows’ voices onto air and into digital storytelling. In this way, you could involve those getting the training and support, while amplifying trusted messengers who can make policy coverage relatable and actionable for audiences most affected by it.
Tag team?
Longtime OIGO readers (thank you btw!) know I’ve played this drum sequence often, but teaming up with others beats going it alone. And a new collaborative offers public media new possibilities.
The LatidoBeat coalition features legacy outlets like La Opinión (Los Angeles), El Diario (New York), La Raza (Chicago) and La Prensa de Houston. Newspapers, as a friend says, are the oldest flyers, but there’s something exciting here. LatidoBeat is demonstrating how legacy Spanish-language media can unite to explicitly amplify local Latino voices.
What’s interesting? Well, these publications have been community anchors for decades, documenting immigration’s everyday realities long before national outlets took notice. Collaboration allows organizations to share resources and, in this instance, connect with audiences across geographies.
Imagine the power if your organization (some share these same markets) partnered with LatidoBeat outlets or even Spanish-language newspapers to co-produce local immigration coverage, share investigative leads, or host bilingual community forums. This is a messy moment, but the necessity of working together has never been more urgent.
And let’s not forget infrastructure
This last example isn’t like the others in that it’s not a model to adapt. Instead, its grounding public media can consider as stations talk through the why of these moments as leaders like you work to cover communities.
An old media trope is that Latine audiences are underrepresented because they are “hard to reach.” In truth, Hispanics are underserved because the mainstream media ecosystem was not designed necessarily to serve these communities. Public media can be part of changing this perception.
Shifting perception means co-investing in community growth. I know money is a big issue right now for public media. However, co-investment can mean many things. Recognition of community needs is a crucial step.
The Latino Media Consortium emerged in 2024 to address one of American journalism’s most glaring inequities: the near-total lack of sustainable investment in Latino media. Over 500 Latinx-owned media operators serve more than 60 million Latinos nationwide, and the majority function on tiny budgets, without newsroom staff or digital capacity. Compare that to the roughly 1,200 daily English-language newspapers that remain, and the imbalance becomes undeniable.
I am optimistic that public media, with its newfound attention, can help address gaps. Locally, it simply takes making the call.
Values and policy
The immigration enforcement crisis is a test of public media’s values. Three easier reaches where public media can start include:
Investing in collaborations with initiatives doing important work.
Regranting or co-funding local reporters who serve immigrant and Latino communities.
Expanding multilingual coverage across platforms.
Immigration is a defining American story. It that shapes labor markets, elections, education and identity. Covering it well is central to public media’s mission.
The difficult part? At a time when the very idea of belonging is under attack, public media can choose to grab attention and create opportunities by stepping forward. The work of Altavoz Lab, the Latino Media Consortium, and LatidoBeat are a few instances to build on efforts aimed at journalism rooted in community, trust and democracy.
This is journalism public media can deliver. 🟢
Cafecito: stories to discuss ☕
Treinta Y Un Minutos. The Chilean act, which includes puppets, just had a Tiny Desk Concert that went viral. 😁 NPR has a fun feature on how the puppets became a huge hit.
New leadership. Oregon’s Radio Poder has announced the selection of Vicky Falcón Vázquez to run the station. 🔘 More via the Salem Reporter.
Election coalition to watch. Activist voter education group Mi Familia Vota is pairing up with Martin Luther King III to mobilize Black and Latino voters in 10 states. 🗳️ Axios has more.
SCOTUS decision and Hispanic Americans. The Brookings Institution has a new thought paper on the latest Supreme Court moves related to ICE enforcement. 🚓 Racial profiling and trust in institutions are among the major concerns.
Pitching for support. Press Forward has a new guide for organizations looking to craft their messages as they seek to fund initiatives and operations. 💵
El radar: try this 📡
Get outside. MPR News has a nice piece on Huellas Latinas, a Minnesota nonprofit intended to help Latine residents get more into the outdoors and enjoy nature. 🌻
See how faith leaders are stepping in. Wisconsin Public Radio has a thoughtful story on how church leaders are speaking up about the impact of ICE enforcement actions on members and community trust. ⛪ Likely an important story to localize.
Find local Latinx landmarks. How many historical sites in your state preserve area Latino history and culture? 🔭 Texas Public Radio included an examination of just that question recently, and the locales that may be endangered.
Reflect on body image. KXAN has a report on Latino Texans who struggle with body image issues. It’s a compelling story that is very much a mainstream conversation your organization could benefit in being part of.
Explore solutions to Latine unhoused residents. WCNC aired a report on the unique issues, including language and cultural barriers. 😔 Given the challenging economy, this may be a story to track locally, and visit with area nonprofits.
The next OIGO arrives Nov. 7. I’ll be part of a Bay Area Storytellers of Color panel Oct. 30 on the future of public media. 📻 In addition, KQED Signal Society members can sign up for my talk and Q&A on AI and public media applications happening Nov. 7. No virtual option for either… sorry!
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