News today and most of this week have been dominated by the unfortunate fire tragedy that literally consumed large parts of San Diego. So we thought it would only be appropriate to substitute our regular news summary with this post. The fire, now suspected to be the product of arson, has displaced more people than Katrina. And while officials have worked swiftly to communicate with residents, and hotels have lowered rates, and more help is starting to pour in, a large population of the city is and has been unfortunately being left behind. For three straight days, Univision.com has emphasized that there is lack of information being provided in Spanish. San Diego County is 30% Hispanic, but places like San Ysidro have a 75% Hispanic population– mostly bilingual or Spanish dominant. When the Katrina disaster stroke, many Latinos were left behind without information on where to go or what to do. With a population increasingly diverse, and the area’s proximity to the Tijuana border, Spanish-language communication can save lives and make the job of rescuers even more efficient and effective. In our recent proprietary survey, media came out as a leading source of information for emergency and disasters, right behind first responders. But companies, non-profits, and all can help. Univision is dedicating a lot of coverage to the news and also is willing to post information in Spanish. It is still needed.
And in other headlines, here are some news for the week:
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Cardinal pick shows Hispanic clout – The Vatican’s selection of Houston as the see for its newest American cardinal speaks volumes about the importance of Hispanics to the future U.S. Catholic Church. According to a survey of more than 4,600 Hispanics in April by the Pew Hispanic Center, 33 percent of America’s 67 million Catholics are Hispanic and this percentage is projected to rise to 41 percent by 2030. Washington Times, online.
As networks seek Latino actors, NBC gets a big boost from Telemundo – In the last year, Telemundo has emerged as a valuable farm team for parent company NBC Universal, supplying Latino talent to a variety of programs across its networks. Anchor María Celeste substituted on the ’Today’ show this summer, and half a dozen Telemundo personalities served as guest judges on an episode of Bravo’s ’Top Chef’ in July. Telenovela star Miguel Varoni did a guest turn on ’My Name Is Earl’ last week, and next month, Telemundo’s new late-night host, Alex Cambert, will appear on ’The Tonight Show.’ Los Angeles Times, online.
Names can sometimes hinder Latino politicians – With a rise in mixed marriages, more Latino politicians could be facing the prospect of having to prove that they are Hispanic. The phenomenon has led some politicos to add a Hispanic middle name or last name to their moniker, or ditch an Anglo one. Kansas City Star, online.
Latino head of RNC resigns – The announcement by Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida that he was quitting as general chairman of the Republican National Committee came after he had expressed frustration over the tenor of the immigration debate within his party. Martinez will remain in his Senate post. Los Angeles Times, online.
Phoenix in the Spotlight – Some say Phoenix is a conflicted metropolis: It embraces its burgeoning Latino population but also holds it at arm’s length. On the positive side, advertisers are taking notice and funneling millions of dollars into Hispanic-targeted media in the Phoenix marketplace, which stretches north to ski town Flagstaff and south to Tucson. New media outlets are continually entering the market to challenge established players, giving media buyers more options and added leverage in negotiations. Adweek, online.
Light-flyweight Yanez could be USA’s next big thing – Yanez, 5-foot-3 and a brick over 100 pounds, is on the U.S. boxing team after dominating the light-flyweight (106 pounds) division at the U.S. Olympic trials in August. As a captain of the national team, Yanez is one of USA Boxing’s most promising athletes and the first American to win Pan Am Games gold in the light-flyweight division. USA Today, online.
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