The Spanish media and their main channels, Telemundo and Univision, are hugely influential in shaping public opinion for Latinos. The American media does not have that problem; American viewers can easily choose to watch either CNN or FOX News, for instance. Both channels aren’t probably the best in credibility but what is important is that Americans have the chance to choose what they want to watch.
There is a black hole when it comes to Spanish language conservative media. The main reason is that Hispanic media is mostly ruled by a liberal agenda that usually spreads fear and a constant sense of insecurity and oppression propaganda through its different platforms.
Latinos should not be pushed to the liberal line just because the Spanish media says so. Back in 2000, Al Gore lost Florida and eventually the election because of the Hispanic vote in that state. Latino support for the Republican Party rose from 20% in 1996 to 35% in 2000, to 42% in the 2004 presidential election.
This was the turning point. It was in the year 2006 that the Republicans did not hold the majority in Congress because of the lack of support from the Latino community, in large part due to the misinterpretation of conservative ideas regarding the issue of immigration provided by a network clearly dominated by left-wing partisans.
The Hispanic population of the United States as of 2018 is 59.9 million. This makes Latinos the largest ethnic/racial minority population in America. Latino traditional values are very much linked to conservatism; work hard to get money, entrepreneurship, patriotism, traditional family values as well as strong religious beliefs. Back in 1979, Ronald Reagan wisely stated: “Hispanics are Republicans, they just don’t know it yet.” However, Republicans have been out of touch with the Latino community because of the lack of conservative opinion in Spanish.
Just take a careful look at the news in Spanish. With outlets like Telemundo, Univision, CNN en Español and TV Azteca, there is no space for conservative opinion; these channels are by no means friends of conservatives’ ideas, their main role is to just spin the news.
The game should be fair. Latinos deserve a balanced Spanish media in the United States.