Public media's Latinx voting record

Here is how public media is covering the Latinx vote, Super Tuesday and 2024 election

The 2024 presidential election brings the Latine electorate into sharp focus like never before. 🪄 With attention on the growing influence of la comunidad’s vote, media outlets have provided analysis and reporting on the efforts of both Republicans and Democrats to court Latine voters in key states.

Coverage we’ve seen in the broader industry space has emphasized the significance of issues such as the economy, immigration and abortion access to Latino voters, as well as the diverse nature of the Latino electorate. 🎯 Check out past OIGOs for data on the wide range of political perspectives and priorities.

It can feel hard for public media to adequately cover the nuances of our community. 🪁 Fortunately, there are some inspiring examples.

In truth, public radio and public television have done maravilloso, thought-provoking journalism that captures the complexity and influence of this crucial voting bloc. 🧭 From highlighting efforts to mobilize Latino voters, including voter registration and leveraging social norms in communications, there is some coverage all of us could learn from.

What have been some of the most intriguing Latina/o/e/x angles by public media since the fall? Vamos. 👀

As the 2024 presidential election heats up, public radio and public television are each striving to be vital sources for insightful, real and verified election coverage when it comes to a focus on the Latino vote. 🌼 There are some excellent examples so far of election coverage and innovative storytelling that is taking place in the days (as well as weeks) before Super Tuesday.

Voter engagement. Despite the growing number of Latinx eligible voters, turnout rates have typically trailed those of some other groups. 😟 However, local mobilizations are ongoing to spur Latino voters. While then-President Donald Trump made gains among Hispanics in the 2020 election, a majority of Latino voters chose current President Joe Biden. Nevertheless, the Latine vote is diverse; and public media has sought to cover the different issues and priorities influencing voting decisions within the community. Some examples:

• KUAR talked with community organizations seeking to engage young Latina/os in Arkansas. 💁‍♀️

• WHYY reflects on how Hispanic residents feel ignored until voting time, and how local agencies are keeping engagement going before Election Day. 🙇‍♂️

• KQED hosts a conversation on the Latinx voter disengagement and efforts to spark interest. 🍀

• WBEZ looks at local races and injects dimensions related to Latine candidates and areas seeing demographic changes. ✨

• KVPR (with CalMatters) explores why young Hispanics aren’t connecting with candidates as much as campaigns would like. 🧓

Talking about issues broadly. The 2024 election is expected to see the Latinx vote influenced by a variety of important issues. Economic concerns, including the cost of living, inflation, jobs, and healthcare, are among the top priorities for Latine voters. Additionally, housing affordability has emerged as a significant concern, reflecting the pressing need for solutions. 🏠 Immigration remains a key issue, with strong support for providing a path to citizenship for long-residing undocumented individuals and DACA recipients. Moreover, the diverse range of concerns within the community underscores the need for authentic outreach and engagement by public media. Some intelligent approaches around coverage include:

• Colorado Public Radio relates the complex issues the state’s Hispanics are grappling with. 🫖

• WABE highlights Latine voters’ worries about healthcare as they weigh their options in November. 🩼

• KERA (via the Texas Newsroom) asks Texas Latino/a voters what they really want from candidates to earn their votes. ⛓️

• WPLN is among those to tell the personal stories of Latinos deciding to run for office and what inspired them. 🛒

• Northern Public Radio sits down with a local leader who speaks about how quality-of-life issues shape Latinx voting decisions. 🔬

The power of the network and collaboration. NPR deserves its flores for providing to (and partnering with) member stations’ broadcasts and digital platforms its comprehensive and nuanced coverage of the Hispanic vote (and amplifying local journalism, too). Throughout the election cycle, NPR has featured some good in-depth analyses, interviews with experts, and on-the-ground reporting from diverse Latino communities across the country. 🪟 Through its varied distribution channels, NPR served the content to stations, which got to showcase a commitment to accuracy and balance, while spotlighting the complexities of the Latinx vote and avoiding oversimplification.

This is not original reporting from the stations, but represents a springboard to connect with Latina/o audiences.

• Here’s KSUT reposting Franco Ordoñez’s coverage of Latine Trump-leaning voters in Nevada. 🪪

• WYPR offers NPR’s analysis on the importance of women in winning Latinx voters, especially on issues like reproductive rights. 👧

• And Iowa Public Radio reshares NPR’s report on the conflicted feelings of the state’s Hispanics and all the Republican anti-immigration rhetoric. 🧶

• Blue Ridge Public Radio posts NPR’s story on Hispanic Democrats’ strategizing to win voters. ♟️

• And also, NPR digital on Texas and Florida Latinos, who are expected to prove pivotal this election year. 🗺️

In 2022, I wrote about the tired Latino voter round table model. As you reflect on these newer examples, it becomes evident that authentic and diverse storytelling, coupled with rigorous conversation and analysis, contributes to the best storytelling.

The Latino vote, with its multifaceted influences and significance, is receiving the attention it has deserved. 🏅 The commitment to sharing perspectives that resonate with the experiences of Latinx communities not only ensures accurate reporting, but also enriches the broader narrative of American democracy.

The 2024 presidential election is going to be a pivotal moment in U.S. history, and public radio and public television can play a big role in providing journalism on the Latine vote. 📢 The examples highlighted here serve as beacons of excellence, setting a standard for future election coverage that better reflects the diversity and complexity of the American electorate.

Public radio and public television have provided comprehensive coverage of the growing influence of the Latina/o vote in the 2024 presidential election. What pieces did I miss? Surely there is more content emphasizing the diverse nature of the Latinx electorate and the impact of young Latine voters? The reporting you have seen has been instrumental in highlighting efforts to amplify our coverage. 🎧 Offer a comment and let me know what is also noteworthy. 🟢

Cafecito: stories to discuss ☕

• KUNR will launch Al Aire, the station's first weekly Spanish-language broadcast news segment, starting March 1. 🧨

• I noted in a previous OIGO about KUER’s acquisition of a license to launch a bilingual station. 📻 The organization has now posted a job description for the position of program director for KUUB.

• WBEZ and Illinois Latino News recently announced a new partnership. 🔌

• Update on the WLRN discrimination controversy: former host Carlos Frias wrote on X/Twitter that his name had been removed from episodes. 🔕

  • Related: Sherrilyn Cabrera noted on X/Twitter that a fund for the terminated journalists has been set up. I gave, and hope you can too. 🎚️

• There are some great use cases for Spanish-language journalism and YouTube Shorts by Argentine publication La Nación, La Encerrona in Peru and others. ☄️

El radar: try this 📡

• See about local demographic data. 💌 Boise State Public Radio has coverage of a new report of Idaho population changes. This is perennially a good story to tell, with elections casting a strong backdrop.

• Examine relations with police. WSHU shares about an advocacy group supporting Long Island's Latino residents, which met with local authorities to urge more transparency in local law enforcement and court policies. 🫷 Leaders contend the system is difficult for non-native English speakers to navigate.

• Investigate Hispanic maternal mortality rates. Nebraska Public Media highlights how disparities in data have meant a murky picture a the rate Latinx mothers are dying in the Midwest. 👶

• Ask about childcare entrepreneurship in your state. While the state faces a shortage of childcare workers, New Hampshire Public Radio reports on nine Hispanic women in Nashua graduated from a free Spanish-language program that taught them how to open daycare centers or at-home childcare businesses. 🤱 Despite having early childhood education degrees from their countries, these women had faced barriers due to licensing requirements in the U.S., but are now trained in legal and safety aspects to work in that field.

• Explore Latino attitudes about conservation. Aspen Public Radio recently posted the results of how Hispanics in the West (Colorado, specifically) feel about the environment and climate change. 🪵 I’m curious if your state has organizations doing similar polling?

The next OIGO arrives Match 15. Next time, we’ll visit with Lisa Bracken of KERA. The station just launched Tiempo Tranquilo, a mindfulness podcast for children with full episodes in both English and Spanish, parent and educator guides and more. 🛼 We’ll talk about how it came together and what they’ve learned. Prepare to be wowed by a thoughtful leader.

I’m seeking your expertise and insights on DEI committees in public media. I hope to share out collected learnings. 🌞 Hit Reply if you’d like to talk. I’m happy to keep it off the record.

🛟 You can buy me a coffee if you’d like to support the newsletter. 🛟