The Missing Latino Storytellers
Lawmakers are ringing alarms over a federal study that shows diversity and inclusion for Latinos in media and entertainment is “abysmal”
Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro calls it “The Missing Latino Narrative,” and he says it is a problem that carries far-reaching implications for all Americans. A severe underrepresentation of Latinos working in the media is “unacceptable,” he said, as it confirms his long-held concern that a community that accounts for almost one-fifth of the nation’s population is severely underrepresented in news and entertainment –- two of the most important businesses in today’s information-driven society.
This standing for Latinos in media, which Castro called “abysmal,” was underscored in a new study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
Castro has made headlines since announcing the GAO’s results at the National Press Club at the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month. The government’s research, based on data reported by employers, shows that some 12% of all media and entertainment jobs are held by people who identify as Latino. Latinos, meanwhile, are nearly 19% of the United States population.
“So the lack of representation affects the portrayal of Latinos and Latinas,” Castro said in a special edition of palabra. RECLAIMED.”
The GAO is Congress’ non-partisan investigative unit, and the media hiring report was requested a year ago by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. It shows that in executive positions, Latinos only make up 4% of the workforce. Latino actors, writers and reporters only account for about 8% of all media employees.
The authors of the report found that the “media industry had a lower percentage of Hispanic workers than the percentage of all other industries combined in 2019, according to the most recent data from the Census Bureau’s (American Community Survey).”
“That represents to me a very dangerous void in narrative,” said Castro, the former Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “The Latino narrative is missing in the larger American story. So we are defined by the media instead of us defining ourselves.”
Recently, palabra. reported on the widespread concern that poor representation for Latinos in the ranks of media professionals results in products that often misrepresent the reality of the community’s experience in the United States. “The images, the stereotypes that come out of American media affect all of us who walk around with brown skin or Spanish surnames,” Castro said. “It (impacts) all of us in our daily lives because it affects how other Americans are perceiving us and quite honestly how we perceive ourselves.”
Congressman Joaquin Castro announced the findings of the GAO report on September 21, 2021, in Washington, DC at the National Press Club during National Hispanic Heritage Month. Photo courtesy The National Press Club
Castro said he and the other members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus spent the past year meeting with media executives, repeating this message: “We appreciate all of the initiatives that you’ve got in place, but these are your numbers and the numbers are very bad. So whatever you’ve done to this point has not succeeded. You’ve got to do something else.”
Castro also explained why he thinks media executives should be brought before Congress and questioned about their hiring practices. “They produce entertainment, but over the years they have also produced very damaging stereotypes that have affected how Americans view the Latino community.”
“Your numbers are very bad. Whatever you’ve done to this point has not succeeded. You’ve got to do something else.”
Despite the poor hiring record, Castro is cautiously optimistic that some media organizations will eventually increase Latino representation. “These companies are fairly cognizant of the problem. But the real issue is whether they’re actually going to do something about it. The answer for some is ‘yes.’ The answer for others is less clear.”
On “palabra. RECLAIMED,” Castro added a Hollywood-style cliffhanger, noting that a second part of the GAO study is due in the spring of 2022. That report deals with discriminatory practices in the media and entertainment businesses.
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Saida Pagán is an award-winning Los Angeles-based journalist, and recent recipient of two first-place awards from the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors. Pagán was born and raised in New York City, and is of Puerto Rican heritage.
She has reported and produced for news organizations across the United States, and has appeared in nearly 100 prime-time television programs, major motion pictures and other media projects.
Saida Pagán’s journalism has tackled social issues such human trafficking, workplace illness, child abuse and challenges faced by ethnic actors. Her TV news series, “The Color of Movies,” was placed in the archives of SAG-AFTRA following a special ceremony honoring her work.
Pagán holds a master’s degree with distinction in Strategic Communication and she frequently conducts webinars on various aspects of media and communication.