By Patricio Robayo | Radio Catskill | Hispanic Heritage Month SeriesAs part of Radio Catskill’s continuing Hispanic Heritage Month series, Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo spoke with María Hinojosa, the longtime host and executive producer of Latino USA, which now airs Thursdays at 2 p.m. on Radio Catskill.Hinojosa, born in Mexico City and raised in Chicago, has spent more than three decades reporting stories that often go unheard in mainstream media — stories that highlight the lives, struggles, and achievements of Latino communities across the United States.She is the founder and CEO of Futuro Media Group, a nonprofit newsroom based in New York City dedicated to elevating diverse voices in public media. Over her career, Hinojosa has earned multiple Emmy and Peabody Awards, the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Pulitzer Prize for audio reporting for the podcast Suave. She is also the author of Once I Was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America.Hinojosa on Hispanic Heritage MonthDuring the conversation, Hinojosa reflected on how her view of Hispanic Heritage Month has evolved over the years.“I was not a big fan of Hispanic Heritage Month,” she said. “I don’t even use the word Hispanic to describe myself. But now, given our reality, I’m a big fan of Latino Heritage Month. We need to celebrate who we are — and tell the truth about who we are.”Hinojosa said the celebration has taken on new urgency in recent years, as misinformation and political rhetoric have distorted public perceptions of Latino communities.“For basically a decade, the Republican Party and Donald Trump have created a narrative about us that is not true,” she said. “We have to do the hard work to tell the truth about who we are. Look around — the Latinos in your community are not who this administration says we are.”Independent Journalism and the Fight Against MisinformationHinojosa described Latino USA as “100 percent independent,” produced by the nonprofit newsroom Futuro Media, which relies on listener support rather than corporate or political influence.“You can’t fire us,” she said with a laugh. “The only people who can fire us are our listeners.”That independence, she said, allows her team to pursue “journalism with heart” — fact-based reporting that balances seriousness with humanity.“We never set out to be activists,” Hinojosa said. “We just wanted to be journalists. But now, the truth itself has become our mission.”Hinojosa said the program seeks to reflect the full spectrum of Latino life — not just hardship, but also joy, humor, and culture.“We don’t only want to do journalism that’s sad or depressing,” she said. “Our responsibility is also to bring humor, laughter, and culture. That’s why people trust us.”A Changing Community, A Changing ShowAfter more than 30 years on the air, Latino USA continues to evolve. Hinojosa said the Latino population in the United States is growing rapidly and diversifying, and her newsroom is adapting to reflect those shifts.“We have to be curious about how the Latino and Latina population keeps changing,” she said. “We’re flexible, and that helps us tell these stories well.”Looking ahead, Hinojosa said she hopes to expand Latino USA’s presence on social media and explore producing visual versions of the program to reach new audiences.“We’re always evolving — that’s what’s kept Latino USA on the air for three decades,” she said.Hope for the FutureDespite growing challenges — from political division to misinformation — Hinojosa said she remains optimistic.“There is no bad from which good cannot come,” she said. “Out of this moment, leaders will emerge — young people whose lives are being shaped right now. They’re going to redefine what it means to be Latino in America.”Hinojosa said she sees the next generation as key to shaping the country’s future and urged those with privilege or visibility to speak out and support democracy.At the close of the conversation, she and Robayo reflected on the importance of representation in public media.“You are one of the reasons I fell in love with public media,” Robayo told her. “There was a voice that spoke to my community — one I wasn’t hearing anywhere else.”Hinojosa replied, “Each one teach one — and others will follow you. That’s how we keep this going.”

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