A study by the Pew Research Center published last month revealed that on average, 54% of Latino adults in the United States consume news in English, 21% in Spanish, and 23% in both languages.
However, there's a significant difference between those born in the United States and those who arrived as immigrants from other Spanish-speaking countries. While 79% of US-born Latinos prefer news in English, those born outside the United States have different habits; 41% consume news in Spanish, 26% in English, and 31% in both languages.
Another aspect highlighted by the study is that the majority of the Latino population consumes news through digital devices. 65% prefer these platforms over television, radio, or print media. This is largely because Latino adults are younger compared to other population groups.
In this regard, nearly three-quarters of Latino adults under 50 (73%) prefer to receive their news via digital devices, including 27% who specifically use social media to stay informed.
Regarding the media through which the Latino population gets informed, the study highlights that at least half of the population maintains a keen interest in events in their home countries and even uses media from those countries to stay informed.
Similar to the previous case, consumption habits differ according to place of birth. 69% of those born in another country receive news from Hispanic media, and 72% receive news about their home country. Meanwhile, among Hispanic adults born in the U.S., 33% sometimes receive news from Hispanic media, and 38% receive news about their family's home country.
Recently, the World of Statistics website revealed that the United States is the second country with the most Spanish speakers, with 56.7 million people, surpassing Colombia with 51.6 million and Spain with 47.6 million. Mexico holds the first place with 130.1 million people.
This gives us an overview of the importance of the Spanish language, not only domestically but also in political, social, and economic spaces, and, as in this case, in the media. Hence, the importance of outlets like Heraldo USA that provide information in both languages to have a broader reach among the Latino population in the United States.