September 25, 2017

How latinos get shortchanged by the media

Marcela Miguel Berland and Frank Gómez, National Institute for Latino Policy - Hispanics continue to be almost invisible in the media, despite our 59 million population (not including the 3.4 million in Puerto Rico).  ... Coverage of hurricanes Harvey, Irma, José, and María, show vividly that Latino media professionals can match anyone, especially on television

NBC and MSNBC provide a useful example.  Miguel Almaguer, Gabe Gutiérrez, Mariana Atencio and many others were prominent in reporting on Harvey and Irma.  Excellent reporting! So talent is there (these and others who braved elements to get the stories must be recognized). At more than 18 percent of the U.S. population, Hispanics merit a greater presence in our media.  Countless studies, articles and complaints document their under-representation in all aspects of American media.  Inclusion is slow in coming.

Latinos are rarely asked to opine on issues that affect them.  Look at the coverage of Harvey.  Houston is a majority-minority city.  Its mayor is black, the fire chief and police chief are Latino, the FEMA rep is Asian American, and Harris County has 2 million Latinos.  Coverage of this beautiful phenomenon of multi-ethnic people helping multi-ethnic people? Almost nil.

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