Hispanic Link

Hispanic Link
Name	Hispanic Link
Founded	1979
Founder	Frank del Olmo; Charlie Ericksen
Status	Nonprofit; news service
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Focus	Latino and Hispanic American issues, public policy, media representation

Hispanic Link is a Washington, D.C.–based news service and nonprofit organization founded in 1979 to cover Latino and Hispanic American affairs. It emerged amid debates involving civil rights figures, Latino political leaders, and mainstream media outlets seeking more extensive coverage of Hispanic communities. The organization has engaged with lawmakers, journalists, academics, and advocacy groups to influence reporting, public policy, and community mobilization.

History

Hispanic Link was established in 1979 by journalists and activists responding to coverage gaps involving Latino communities; founders included Frank del Olmo and Charlie Ericksen alongside contributors such as Ruben Salazar-era contemporaries and community organizers. Early interactions connected the organization to figures like Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and organizations such as the United Farm Workers, the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. During the 1980s and 1990s, Hispanic Link intersected with developments involving the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the Sanctuary Movement, and debates in the U.S. Senate and House over immigration policy, prompting coverage that linked to hearings with Senators like Edward Kennedy and Jesse Helms. The organization’s evolution mirrored media shifts seen at outlets such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, and United Press International, and it engaged with broadcast entities like NBC, CBS, ABC, and PBS as well as Spanish-language networks such as Univision and Telemundo.

Mission and Activities

Hispanic Link’s stated mission centers on improving media coverage of Latino and Hispanic subjects and promoting civic participation by connecting journalists, policymakers, and community leaders. It has worked with institutions such as the Pew Research Center, the Brookings Institution, and the Migration Policy Institute to translate research for reporters and advocates. The organization has liaised with elected officials including former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and members of Congress from both the Democratic and Republican caucuses. Engagements have involved think tanks like the American Enterprise Institute, the Center for American Progress, and the Heritage Foundation, as well as unions such as the AFL-CIO and community groups like the National Council of La Raza (now UnidosUS) and the Hispanic Federation.

Programs and Initiatives

Hispanic Link has sponsored briefings, press conferences, and programs aimed at journalists, policy analysts, and civic leaders. Initiatives have included media training sessions featuring speakers from the Columbia Journalism School, the Nieman Foundation, and the Poynter Institute; voter mobilization efforts linked to campaigns with groups such as the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee; and public policy forums with participation from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Senate Judiciary Committee, the House Judiciary Committee, and state-level bodies like the California State Legislature, the Texas Legislature, and the New York State Assembly. It has partnered on projects addressing immigration reform, bilingual education debates influenced by cases such as Plyler v. Doe, health-care outreach tied to the Affordable Care Act, and economic topics involving the Small Business Administration, the Department of Labor, and Health and Human Services.

Publications and Media

Hispanic Link has produced newsletters, press releases, and reporting packages circulated to newsrooms, community organizations, and academic centers. Its materials have been cited or discussed alongside reporting in The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune, San Antonio Express-News, El Diario, La Opinión, and bilingual outlets including Radio Televisión Martí and National Public Radio segments. The organization has facilitated interviews and panels featuring personalities such as Sonia Sotomayor, Sonia Nazario, Jorge Ramos, María Hinojosa, Ruben Blades, Gloria Estefan, Óscar Hijuelos, Isabel Allende, and authors appearing at events hosted by the Library of Congress, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Smithsonian Institution.

Partnerships and Influence

Hispanic Link has collaborated with universities and centers such as Harvard Kennedy School, UCLA, University of Texas at Austin, and Florida International University on conferences and research dissemination. It has engaged with policy actors including the White House, the Department of Justice, the Department of Education, and the Federal Communications Commission on matters of representation, language access, and civil-rights enforcement. The organization’s networks have connected it to philanthropic funders like the Ford Foundation, the Kellogg Foundation, and the Open Society Foundations, as well as professional associations such as the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the American Association of Publishers.

Criticism and Controversies

Hispanic Link has faced critique over perceived partisanship, editorial decisions, and its relationships with political actors and funders. Critics from journalistic outlets including The New York Times editorial pages, editorial voices in the Miami Herald, and conservative commentators in publications such as National Review and The Washington Times have questioned its influence on news agendas and its collaborations with advocacy groups. Debates have arisen over accuracy and framing in coverage involving immigration enforcement actions, border policy associated with Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and portrayals of Latino political behavior during presidential campaigns featuring candidates such as Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump. Legal challenges and public disputes have involved attorneys from groups like the ACLU and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund in matters concerning press access, transparency, and nonprofit governance.

Category:Organizations established in 1979 Category:Hispanic and Latino American organizations