Fox News Continues Cringe-Inducing Latino Coverage During Hispanic Heritage Month
1. As Hispanic Heritage Month unfolds, Fox News has created content to celebrate it, while also offering up cringe-worthy examples of exactly how not to honor Hispanic-Americans.
On the positive side they looked at an animal trainer, a tennis champion and Goya Foods. But there were more high-profile, head-scratching segments as well.
2. Hispanic Heritage Month began Sept. 15, and on Sept. 19 Chris Wallace hosted Fox News “Special Report,” talking about how undocumented parents get federal “welfare” benefits.
3. The segment cited a Los Angeles county study that said undocumented immigrants will receive $650 million in federal benefits this year, but neglected to mention the benefits were for their U.S. citizen children.
Los Angeles has 4.8 million Latinos, accounting for 9% of the U.S. Hispanic population, according to Pew, and approximately 80 percent of undocumented immigrants are from Mexico or Latin America.
4. National Association of Hispanic Journalists president, Hugo Balta, railed against the depiction.
That inaccuracy was compounded by the use of a graphic that read “Children of the Corn”. There have been many speculations as to what this meant – but one thing is certain it invoked a negative image. The National Association of Hispanic Journalists has reached out to FOX News in an effort to get a better understanding of how this segment, riddled with basic misinformation and disdainful images made air. It is apparent that the segment went through many decision making filters who felt the finished product was editorially sound. NAHJ asks, “who are these journalists?” Experience has shown that most likely none were representative of the Latino community.
5. National Hispanic Media Coalition president Alex Nogales published an open letter to Fox News Channel chairman Roger Ailes after the “children of the corn” segment.
“Unfortunately, this is only the latest instance in Fox News’ long history of anti-immigrant and anti-Latino hate speech. Studies demonstrate that such rhetoric may breed hate and impact the health of not only members of the targeted group, but anyone that hears these messages. NHMC’s recent multi-method research project found that Fox News viewers are more likely to harbor negative stereotypes and unfavorable views against Latinos and immigrants. The research revealed that news and entertainment media have a profound influence on non-Latinos’ perceptions of Latinos and immigrants, and that portrayals can diminish or exacerbate stereotypically negative opinions about Latinos and immigrants.”
6. On Friday, while Fox News celebrated “National Taco Day,” Brian Kilmeade turned to Maria Molina, who is of Nicaraguan descent and said, “You grew up on tacos, correct?”
Laughs rang out in the studio.
Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy unhelpfully came to her rescue saying, “She’s Colombian.”
Molina clarified that she’s Nicaraguan. “That’s not a native food,” she said, smiling.
“But if you did — if you did grow up on tacos,” Elizabeth Hasselbeck, added.
9. While Fox News is in the midst of a Hispanic Heritage Month series, including a look at Goya, and runs Fox News Latino, a site for Hispanics in English, some say even its well-intentioned efforts stand in stark contrast to a perceived anti-Latino bent.
(Disclosure: I worked at FNL, previously.)
10. Julio Ricardo Varela, the founder of LatinoRebels.com, says big organizations like Fox News often don’t know how to speak to the Latino community, which leads to insensitive remarks and the perpetuation of stereotypes.
“Nine times out of 10 those brands miss the mark and that speaks to the lack of understanding and knowledge of cultural authenticity,” Varela says. “Everyone has good intentions but then they don’t have the knowledge or expertise or resources to really explore Latino and Hispanic culture.”
Varela says this will begin to change when place like Fox News Channel invest in having Latino voices front and center to improve its coverage.
“We need people in these places who understand — real voices in the organization,” he says.
LINK
LINK
Read more: http://buzzfeed.com/adriancarrasquillo/fox-news-continues-cringe-inducing-latino-coverage-during-hi
Previous Post: Community Post: Flour Challenge Gone Wrong
Next Post: Community Post: This House Has Dubstep Christmas Lights
Leave a Reply