Published Friday, April 6, 2001
Interest in Hispanic issues rises with population
BY OLIVIA MUÑOZ
ASNE Reporter
Newspapers have a lot of ground left to cover regarding Hispanics, from hiring more to improving coverage of their communities, according to editors at the 2001 ASNE convention.
Recent U.S. Census figures show that the Hispanic population exceeds 40 million, counting Puerto Rico and the projected number of undocumented immigrants.
Some editors have recognized the change in demographics and are committed to reflecting the makeup of their communities in their newspapers.
“Coverage has changed considerably because we have seen the enormous influence of Hispanics in our market. They are becoming increasingly politically active and politically powerful, so they require a lot of coverage,” said Earl R. Maucker, vice president and editor of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale.
Though Hispanic coverage is a growing priority, some editors said, coverage is uneven.
“Some papers have better coverage than others. Since the release of the 2000 Census figures, many newspapers have become more interested in Hispanic issues, but stories usually focus on the immigration side,” said Joseph Torres, communications director for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, which is based in Washington. “That’s an important story, but too often we’re treated as if we’re all new arrivals to this country,” he said.
As an example of how newspapers overlook other Hispanic news, Mr. Torres cited the recent meeting between the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and President George W. Bush.
“I mean, that’s a news story. Yet very little mainstream press covered it,” he said.
But many editors said Hispanic readership is undeniable, and they have begun to pay closer attention to it.
“Hispanics have a tremendous influence in southern Florida. We have changed not only some of our coverage prerogatives, but we’ve changed our staffing to make sure that we have (Hispanic) representatives in our newsroom,” said Mr. Maucker. In Florida, the Hispanic population grew by 70.4 percent according to the 2000 Census.
He said the Sun-Sentinel has tried to publish weekly Spanish editions in the past, but none of them has been successful. He added that 50 percent of his staff is Spanish-speaking, though not necessarily Hispanic. He listed the opening of a bureau in Havana as a highlight of the newspaper’s Hispanic coverage.
Many editors are beginning to realize the importance of having Hispanic staff members to bring a different view to the newsroom.
Carole Leigh Hutton, managing editor of the Detroit Free Press, said diversity is one of the “core values” at the Free Press. She said she plans to cover Detroit’s booming Mexican community. Michigan’s Hispanic population rose 60.7 percent in the past decade.
Ms. Hutton said the Free Press encourages readers to contribute to the paper’s Op-Ed pages and hopes more Hispanic views will be voiced there.
Both Mr. Maucker and Ms. Hutton said their papers annually send staffers to the National Association of Hispanic Journalists convention to recruit.
Arnold Garcia, editor of the editorial pages for the Austin American-Statesman, said it’s been a few years since he’s gone because he decided to give others a chance.
“We always have a strong presence at (the National Association of Black Journalists convention) and NAHJ,” he said. The Hispanic population in Texas rose by 53.7 percent, according to the 2000 Census.
Besides going to the job fairs to hire Hispanic staff, newspapers might need to add depth to their coverage of Hispanics to present a more accurate portrait of the community.
“Editors tend not to know who the Latino community is,” said Mr. Torres. He offers this simple advice: Invite the community into the newsroom.
“Editors need to seek out community leaders. They’re there. You just have to make an effort to reach out,” he said.
“Newspapers read other newspapers to keep up,” Mr. Torres said. “So, if you want to know what’s going on in the Latino community, read their newspapers.”
