by Marvin Ramírez
El Reportero proudly celebrates its 35th anniversary, marking more than three decades of independent journalism serving the Hispanic community in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since its founding in the Journalism Department at San Francisco State University (SFSU), this bilingual outlet has been a tireless voice, informing, educating, and defending the interests of Latinos in the United States.
In a world where digital technology has transformed the way people consume information, El Reportero has maintained its commitment to the written word, remembering that history and laws are forged with ink on paper. In an era where algorithms dictate what people read and think, this newspaper has fought to preserve the essence of real journalism, one that informs without selling its soul to political tendencies or interests outside the community. El Reportero has not only witnessed the evolution of the Hispanic community in the Bay Area, but has also played an active role in defending its rights. It has denounced injustices, given a voice to the voiceless, and served as a cultural bridge between generations of immigrants and their descendants. Through its pages, stories of struggle and overcoming difficulties have been told, initiatives for social welfare have been promoted, and a love of reading and truthful reporting has been cultivated.
Maintaining an independent newspaper for 35 years has not been an easy task. It has been a labor of love and resilience, facing economic, technological, and social challenges. In times when print journalism has declined, El Reportero has persevered thanks to its roots in the community and the support of its loyal readers. It has not been seduced by interests that compromise its editorial independence and has resisted the pressure of digital immediacy, which often sacrifices the depth and analysis of its reporting. This newspaper has not only reported on politics, economics, culture, and civil rights, but has also celebrated Latin American traditions, music, literature, and art. It has provided a platform for writers, poets, and journalists committed to truth and the preservation of Hispanic identity.
El Reportero has demonstrated that, in a society saturated with rapid and ephemeral information, a medium that offers in-depth analysis, rigorous research, and a space for critical thinking remains vital. Its work has not only consisted of informing, but also of educating and encouraging the habit of reading, especially among younger generations, at a time when the digital world threatens to alienate people from print.
This anniversary is an opportunity to remember Hispanics who have achieved the American dream by establishing their own businesses, demonstrating that part of the strength of a community is the existence of its own press. A press that spreads and promotes culture and information that the conventional or mainstream media are not interested in covering. It’s also a time to highlight the few Latinos who have managed to earn journalism degrees and create our own press, refusing to work for media conglomerates that don’t serve our interests. To these Hispanic entrepreneurs, we remind you that no one pays for our news articles, but the distribution and printing costs require the support of you, the merchants. Contributing to the print media is essential for the benefit of the new Latinos who are emerging.
Celebrating 35 years of El Reportero is a celebration of the perseverance, passion, and conviction that free and independent journalism is a fundamental pillar of democracy and social development. It is a reaffirmation that information should not be a product manipulated by external interests, but a right at the service of the people. It is, ultimately, a testament to the fact that the written word continues to have transformative power and that the fight for an honest and committed press must continue. Today, with renewed enthusiasm, El Reportero looks to the future with the same mission with which it was founded: to be the voice of the community, keep the tradition of print journalism alive, and continue to be a beacon of truthful, quality information for present and future generations. Happy 35 years, El Reportero! May there be many more to come.
