Where are the Latino News Anchors?
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Frank Camacho is a former Reporter/Anchor at KTVK (Phoenix), who left the television news business in 2012.
Camacho was one of the few Latino male Anchors to be on the air in Phoenix and since he left the Latino has grown even bigger in the Valley of the Sun.
But still lacks in Latinos on the newscasts.
Camacho thinks he knows why?
“Latinos in this market, especially, have been terribly underserved by the English-language stations because there are plenty of Latinos who could have filled those spots, both male and female,” he said. “But especially male, I think, because we’ve seen a lack of male Latinos in prime-time anchoring spots.”
He blames a lack of institutional knowledge — and the dwindling of local ownership.
“Most of the stations are corporate-owned now, so there’s that lack, maybe, of local touch, and local touch with the community,” he said. “So they’re kind of looking for a certain type of Latino who may not be what is really representative of this particular culture. We’re Mexican-American. We’re Southwest. We’re not like the Tejanos in Texas, or even the Cubanos in Miami. And for them to bring in a Latino from Miami, who is a Cubano, maybe, who doesn’t really understand or know the Mexican culture, and try to pass them as a Latino (from) here to try and attract the audience, I think is wrong.
“If they would really take a look at our culture and understand who we are, what we are, what’s really important to us — just get to know us — I’m sure they’ll find a lot of folks. Like (former KPNX anchor) Linda Alvarez was a real groundbreaker. Linda was from LA, which is very similar to Latinos here. She was a huge, huge hit. She still is. I think she will always go down as one of the best.
"I think there are other male Latinos who probably would fit the same bill, if given the opportunity.”
“Given the opportunity” is the key to what he is saying. As long as the News Director chair and the GM’s chair is filled with old white guys, the newscasts will be anchored and reported by white talent.
If you don’t believe me, turn on your local newscast, then look at the race and gender of the News Director and GM.
Many stations in TV news fail when it comes to diversity.
H/T Arizona Republic
