In a tense political moment, with the installation of Donald Trump as president and an increasingly hostile climate towards the press and the Latin American community, journalist Julio Ricardo Varela (Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, 56 years old) considers that his work for bilingual, independent and community journalism is more important than ever. Recently, she received the title of Journalist of the Year at the Bravo Awards. In conversation with EL PAÍS, Varela looks back on his career, his convictions and the project he is leading today from Boston: The Latino newslettera non-profit media outlet that seeks to educate new generations and produce community-focused journalism.
“Unfortunately, the industry has viewed independent journalists in a bad light,” he explains. “For years, my colleagues at big companies would say, ‘You’re just a blogger‘. For me, this award confirms that this wave of independent journalism, born from the digital world and blog She is strong, critical, honest and authentic. “I’ve spent 20 years hearing people say I’m not a journalist, but I think this recognition makes that clear.”
When asked what this award means for Latino journalism, Varela responds without hesitation: “It’s extremely important. Latinos in the United States are the ones who will save, support and uplift our communities. There is no other way.” And his diagnosis is clear: the problem of Latino representation in American newsrooms is structural and persistent. “There aren’t enough Latinos in this field. And I’ve reached a point in my career where I no longer want to convince companies to hire more Latinos. We are the future of this country.”
For him, the solution is not to reform institutions anchored in business models that do not prioritize community coverage, but to create new newsrooms: “My solution is to build organizations where Latin American journalists can work and publish freely, with the community first. We no longer ask permission to do our work: we already do it.”
Varela acknowledges that his identity shines through everything he writes. “I hold Puerto Rico and the Bronx in my heart. And Boston has been my home for 30 years. This combination defines who I am.” Being Puerto Rican in the United States, he says, involves inhabiting a double consciousness: “We are part of the country, but we are not always treated as part of it.” This perspective, he says, enriched by decades of studying and telling Puerto Rican and Latinx history, allows him to see the country differently: “I see parts of the Southwest or the South or California as extensions of myself. We are united by language, food, culture. » And while he recognizes that the Latino community is going through difficult times, he also observes a deep attachment to the American ideal. “Despite mistreatment, many still believe in the experience of freedom, equality and democracy. When we criticize this country, we do so out of love.”
The Latino newsletter was born from this conviction. An independent, nonprofit news outlet designed to prioritize the mission of journalism above commercial interests. “For me, it is essential that our work is free, accessible, without paywalls. If someone has the Internet or a phone, they can interact with our stories. Information must be accessible to everyone. His gaze is focused on the future: “I’m building something for the next generation of Latin American journalists. I want them to be able to do their job without worrying about how they’re going to pay their rent. Getting there is a marathon, but I’m committed to it.
The construction non-profitHe says, it’s not a technical detail, but a statement of principles: “It defines the mission. It tells the world that this project belongs to everyone. Within the team, we understand that we have complete editorial freedom, with ethics and independence. The quality of journalism is high, and that’s my two cents.”
One of the most serious obstacles, Varela says, is the lack of editors with experience covering Latino communities. “There is a lot of young talent, but there are not enough editors. Without editors, there is no growth.” He acknowledges that there are valuable local efforts, but that coordination is lacking: “We don’t share notes. We’re still trapped in the idea that we’re in competition with each other. That doesn’t exist. Independent journalism isn’t in competition with anyone.”
The economic model of traditional media, however, makes community coverage difficult: “If you work for a media for profit who has to double revenues every year, you will never be able to cover the community well. In The Latino newsletterBut the logic is different: “We are asking for support from those who believe in the project. And if they can’t make a donation, let them read and share the articles. It’s free.”
In a media ecosystem saturated by artificial intelligence and the race to publish first, Varela believes audiences are looking for something that can’t be automated: humanity. “People want to know that those who make up these stories are human beings. Nothing more.” After two decades of observing the profession’s exhaustion by the pressure of speed, his conclusion is clear: “The future of Latin journalism will depend on the reconstruction of trust in a human and collective perspective. »
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