There are more than 65 million Hispanic people living in the U.S., constituting one fifth of the country's population as its largest ethnic or racial minority. Forty million people speak Spanish at home in the U.S.
And yet, there remains a dearth of quality Spanish-language journalism in the U.S., and the news efforts that do exist often are underfunded.
This lack of media, not only to produce quality content but widely distribute it via the channels preferred by Hispanic and Latino communities, leads to significant Spanish-language information gaps in the U.S. These communities are also more likely than others to use WhatsApp and YouTube to inform themselves – especially when it comes to politics – creating a dynamic in which they are at higher risk of receiving disinformation around critical issues through these channels.
What’s more, there are too few Spanish-speaking experts in the U.S. willing to appear on video or audio to explain complex topics in a style that is digestible for their audiences, in Spanish.
Disinformers take advantage of this media ecosystem, and target Latino and Spanish-speaking communities with false and misleading content.
We at Factchequeado created a guide, available in English and Spanish, to help journalists covering Latino and Spanish-speaking communities combat mis- and disinformation, biases and prejudices impacting these groups. Our editor-in-chief, Tamoa Calzadilla, spearheaded the creation of this resource, which was developed with the support of the Reynolds Journalism Institute, as well as Chequeado and Maldita’s education programs.
The guide features recommended terminology for covering Spanish-speaking and Latino communities, a list of data and information sources about these communities, and descriptions of practical tools journalists can use to combat false content and fill in information gaps.
We hope this resource is useful for journalists who we know face challenges on a daily basis as they report on the diversity of issues affecting these communities.
What’s inside the guide?
The guide is composed of five sections:
Section 1
The first section contains an analysis of why Latino and Spanish-speaking communities in the U.S. are vulnerable to mis- and disinformation. It also explores how familiar the journalists covering these communities in the U.S. are with tools to combat false content.
For an in-depth look at this issue, this section includes the findings of a 2023 survey conducted by Factchequeado with its network of partner newsrooms and organizations serving Latino communities and Spanish speakers in the U.S.
Section 2
The guide’s second section showcases a host of digital tools available to combat mis- and disinformation. It offers step-by-step tutorials with tips, descriptions and images showing how journalists can use the tools. Information about subscription prices and those available for free is included, as are examples that highlight how other reporters have used the tools in their coverage.
The section includes an overview of platforms and applications used to verify content in a general sense, including photos and videos, search for archived content and deleted information, verify speech, and analyze web traffic and trends. It also highlights geolocation and AI tools.
The guide breaks down how to use these tools on both a computer and cell phone. Among others, a few included are: Google’s advanced search feature, Google Trends, Yandex, InVID, Fotoforensics, Wayback Machine, advanced search on X, Hive Moderation and El Desgrabador.
Section 3
Section three of the guide provides several key strategies to reach U.S.-based Latino and Spanish-speaking communities through Whatsapp and social media, detailing which formats currently work best.
Section 4
Section four offers advice regarding the most appropriate terms to use when referring to Latino and Spanish-speaking communities in news coverage. It also presents data to help debunk myths and stereotypes about Latino communities, analyzing the actors behind mis- and disinformation affecting them.
Section 5
Section five provides a list of trustworthy resources and organizations for journalists on topics such as immigration, the economy, health, legislation, climate, voting, violence, and safety and security.
Our guide is a living resource that we would like to continue expanding. It is publicly available, and suggestions and comments are welcome. We invite you to email us at info@factchequeado.com with suggestions of organizations we should consider consulting as sources.
What’s the best outcome we can hope for from creating this guide? That it continues to be developed with new perspectives, data and sources that will help us to continue improving the effectiveness of reporting on and for Latino and Spanish-speaking communities.
Leave comments on our guide in Spanish here.
Leave comments on our guide in English here.
Download the guide in Spanish as a PDF here.
Download the guide in English as a PDF here.
A similar article published on the Reynolds Journalism Institute website and Factchequeado.com.
Main image courtesy of Factchequeado.
This article was originally published by IJNet in Spanish. It was translated to English by journalist Natalie Van Hoozer.
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