More than 80% of Latino adults get some of their news in English from television, print, radio and internet outlets, and consumption of news in Spanish is declining. That’s the most recent finding reported in Pew Hispanic Research Center study released this week.
According to the center’s 2012 National Survey of Latinos, there has been a 10% drop in Spanish-language news consumption compared to 2006.
50% of Latino adults say they get their news in both languages, down from 57% in 2010.
When getting down to language exclusivity, 32% of Hispanic adults in 2012 get their news only in English – an increase of 22% from 2006.
By contrast, 18% of Hispanic adults said they get their news exclusively in Spanish , a drop from 22% in 2006.
The study points to several ongoing demographic trends as the reasons for changes in news consumption patterns:
1. A growing share of Latino adults speak English well
2. Slowing immigration
3. Growing time in the U.S.
4. U.S.-born Latino adults on the rise
The study findings may just strengthen the rationale behind Univision’s decision to partner with ABC and launch Fusion, an English-language cable network targeting Latinos.
The complete report is availaible here.
Spanish networks are only good for sports and some telenovelas. They don’t know how to deliver or make a comment on news.
There are quite a few problems with Spanish News Shows, the biggest one being that they are pathologically obsessed with Immigration stories – but maybe that’s the audience they are targeting.
The other big issue is that they are horrible at covering live news. Here in Southern California, where I live, is something breaks I can count on the local English-speaking TV Stations to cover the news LIVE and staying with the story as long as is needed.
On the other hand, I turned to KMEX or KVEA and they are running the Telenovelas, despite having – and bragging – about having their own helicopters.
As for covering the futbol (I know, I know, gringos prefer to call it “soccer”) games – mostly Mexico – with a few exceptions and even that is getting worse with the constant scrolling of twits and other unnecessary graphics…
Hispanics who speak English well don’t have to watch this Fusion BS, they will continue to watch CBS, NBC and ABC, and their cable news affiliates. This Fusion is another mental you-know-what of Univision! And, this may be news to Pew, but it’s not news to us: We’ve been watching the news + plus many other things in English for the longest time. The novelas in Univision and Telemundo are only good for the people “de la tercera edad” because a lot of them don’t speak English, but many of them watch those horrible novelas because they don’t have a choice!