The editorial campaign was organized by New America Media, a San Francisco-based organization that represents more than 2,500 ethnic media outlets.  It is the first time ethnic media across the nation, including Black, Hispanic, and Asian media, have collaboratively published an editorial on the issue.

“Ethnic media reach more than 60 million adults in America,” said NAM Executive Director Sandy Close.  “The ethnic media is using its clout, its channel to ethnic communities, to come together to rally support for immigration reform, an issue that cuts across communities.”

Appearing in newspapers, websites, blogs and other media outlets, the editorial calls on “Congress to to move decisively on immigration reform because there are few issues as important to the nation’s well-being as an overhaul of the inefficient, inhumane and economically debilitating immigration system.“

The editorial asks readers and viewers of ethnic media outlets to contact Congress and urge their lawmakers to make immigration reform a priority.

The response of ethnic media to the editorial shows that immigration is a top priority issue for all ethnic communities and the ethnic media are a key bridge to public debate for ethnic and immigrant audiences, said Marcelo Ballvé, who helped coordinate the campaign for NAM.

“The media have been extraordinarily engaged and excited to participate,” said Ballvé. “A Portuguese newspaper decided to translate the editorial into Portuguese on its own and make it available to other media who might want to use it. A Chinese radio station decided to read it out on the air.”

African American newspapers, Spanish radio, Chinese dailies, Indian monthlies among others have all committed to running the editorial. It is currently running in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Arabic, German, Russian, Portugese, Bahasa, Indonesian, and Urdu.

Ms. Close noted that with an audience of 60 million readers, viewers and listeners the ethnic media reach more Americans than ever before. The NAM network of ethnic media partners ranges from the major news outlets serving African American, Hispanic, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Native American to niche outlets. The most current list of media who are running the editorial is available here.

… read the report here.  Directed by Dr. Cristina L. Azocar and Professor Jon Funabiki of the Center for Integration and Improvement of Journalism. Written by Rene Ciria Cruz. Contributors: Thom Clark, Community Media Workshop, Chicago, Illinois; Frank Herron, University of Maryland; Gregg Morris, Hunter College, New York City; Hayg Oshagan, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan; Federico Subervi, University of Texas, San Marcos, Texas; and Pat Thomas, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.

More background reading about ethnic/immigrant news media.