Across Borders: Perspectives on Puerto Rican News in The U.S. and P.R.

In recent years, I have noticed that the media has become increasingly saturated with news stories about Puerto Rico, yet a closer look reveals a predominance of negative narratives. From economic struggles to natural disasters and political controversies, Puerto Rico often finds itself depicted through a lens of hardship and turmoil. While these issues undoubtedly deserve attention, the consistent emphasis on negative stories paints an incomplete picture of the island and its people.  

These kinds of stories are coming from both the US news and the Puerto Rico news, it is hard to see that our own media is focused mostly on the negatives. Vox did a study back in 2018, that showed how much coverage three news networks gave Puerto Rico after the disaster of Hurricane Maria. It showed that the highest percentage of coverage was only under 7% by CNN, with a little over 3% by Fox News. 

One of the most prominent themes in media coverage of Puerto Rico revolves around its economic challenges. Stories detailing the island’s debt crisis, unemployment rates, and poverty levels frequently make headlines, contributing to a perception of constant struggles. As I write this article, I checked a major Puerto Rican news outlet's website and found that the first four news stories were about someone being murdered or arrested for murder. While these issues are important, the focus on them overlooks the resilience, creativity, and vibrancy of Puerto Rico’s culture and people. Not to mention, it can contribute to negative stereotyping or Puerto Ricans, as well as Latinos in general. With a continued focus on these negative stories, people who are viewing with an outsider’s perspective, have no other choice but to believe what they see and/or create a misconception of our identities. 

Moreover, natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes, not only have further shaped the community and how they now view going through these natural events but have shaped the narrative surrounding Puerto Rico in the media. Images of destruction and despair dominate news coverage in the aftermath of these events, emphasizing stereotypes of helplessness and dependency. Having political controversies and governance issues also be a key theme in Puerto Rican media also has its problems. Debates over statehood, corruption, and government mismanagement overshadow stories about innovation, activism, and cultural richness.  

Amidst this backdrop of negative narratives, Puerto Ricans both on the island and in the US have been vocal in expressing their frustration with media portrayals of their homeland. Many feel that their identity and sense of connection to Puerto Rico are undermined by one-dimensional depictions that fail to capture the complexity and diversity of their experiences. They argue that the media’s focus hides the realities of life on the island, it is not only black and white. Here are two comments from Puerto Ricans and how they personally feel about Puerto Rican media… 

“Pienso que los noticiarios en Puerto Rico se quedan corto… se enfocan en mucha  criminalidad y politica y ya con eso se siente que cumplen con informar. A veces ocurren  tragedias o cosas importantes en otros paises y aqui las mencionan dos dias despues y en  tres segundos. Igualmente, cosas positivas de nuestra isla o nuestra gente a penas las mencionas. Sabemos que el morbo y el chisme venden, pero deberian tener un balance y promover la educacion y la cultural de nuestra isla.” – Anonymous  

(“I think that the news in Puerto Rico falls short... they are focused on a lot of crime and politics and with that they feel like they comply with informing. Sometimes tragedy happens or things happening in other countries and here they mention it two days later and in three seconds. Similarly, positive things about our island or our people are barely mentioned. We know that the morbid and the gossip sell, but they should have a balance and promote the education and culture of our island.” )

“Las noticias son una senda mierda en esta isla. Todo es faranduleria y tabloids. En mi opinion, asesinatos y arrestos no deberian de aparecer en las noticias. Las noticias  deberian enfocarse en cosas que si afectan a nuestra Sociedad. Deberian enfocarse en el  ambiente politico de USA y PR, de que nuevo esta ocurriendo en nuestro vecindario  Caribeno, que iniciativas nuevas hay en PR. Temenos tantos escritorios, pintores, artistas, cientificos y tanto talent en esta isla pero se queda Escondido por los estupidos noticiarios  que solo repiten la misma vaina una y otra vez.” – Anonymous  

(“The news is complete shit on this island. Everything is gossip and tabloids. In my opinion, murders and arrests should appear in the news. The news should focus on things that affect our society. They should focus on the political environment of U.S. and P.R., what new things are happening in our neighborhood, what new initiatives are in PR. We have many writers, painters, artists, scientists and a lot of talent on this island but it gets hidden by the stupid newsreels that only repeat the same thing over and over again.”) 

In the age of pervasive media coverage, Puerto Rico has often been depicted through a lens of struggle and hardship, with economic challenges, natural disasters, and political controversies dominating headlines. While these issues need attention, the relentless focus on negativity paints an incomplete picture of the island and its people, perpetuating stereotypes. The emphasis on negative stories exacerbates the issues of stereotyping, for Puerto Ricans specifically, and for Latinos as a whole. There have been other journalists who have studied and noticed the lack of progress in both US and Puerto Rican media. It is imperative for media outlets to recognize and rectify this imbalance, striving for a more nuanced representation that reflects the diverse realities of life in Puerto Rico. Only then can a more accurate and equitable portrayal emerge, fostering greater understanding and appreciation for the island and its people. That is the aim of this magazine, to provide an authentic representation of Puerto Rico and its people, capturing the essence and diversity of our culture, heritage, and societal norms.