In Phoenix, Arizona, the broadcast studio of Radio Campesina is situated in the historically Latino east side. The station was established by labor activist César Chávez in California and has been a presence in the Western U.S. for 40 years. Arizona-based listeners are attracted to the station’s diverse programming, which includes regional Mexican music such as cumbias, norteñas, rancheras, and románticas, with the objective of offering uplifting and nostalgic tunes to provide solace after a long workday.
Apart from music, Radio Campesina broadcasts Spanish-language news and aims to tackle misinformation related to elections among Latinos in Arizona during this election year. Maria Barquin, the program director, emphasized Chávez’s strong advocacy for voter participation, highlighting the significance of voting for the Latino community’s future. In Arizona, Latino voters are pivotal in the swing state’s electoral outcomes. Maricopa County, home to Phoenix, has a population that is 30% Latino or Hispanic.
Arizona is a focal point for election-related conspiracy theories, with Latinos being a major demographic exposed to misinformation during this election period. Radio Campesina positions itself as a nonpartisan platform and has been actively engaged in combating misinformation as the elections approach. Tara Jackson, President of Arizona Town Hall, noted that Arizona exemplifies the national political division, being a swing state.
Radio Campesina recently launched a campaign to counter misinformation, providing information through various channels. With partnerships like Mi Familia Vota, the station reaches out to Latinos, offering water, food, and voter information to communities such as construction crews and farmworkers. La Campesina reaches over 7 million listeners monthly through radio and streaming, capitalizing on radio’s status as the primary media platform for Latinos.
Throughout its efforts, La Campesina addresses common voter concerns and misinformation about mail-in ballots and voting rights. The station engages directly with listeners, clarifying divisive campaign rhetoric. Producer and host Osvaldo Franko indicated the station’s role in mitigating stress and anger caused by such rhetoric among listeners. The station plans to organize town halls and roundtables in the final weeks leading up to the election to emphasize voting as a civic duty and empower their audience’s involvement in politics.
Barquin holds certain political figures responsible for perpetuating misinformation, while the narrative against Latinos, according to Barquin, aims to create a negative portrayal of the community. Arizona became a center for election-related conspiracy theories after the 2020 presidential election, further fueled by figures such as former President Donald Trump and GOP leaders.
In response, a group of Arizona conservatives established Conservative Agenda for Arizona, a nonprofit aimed at fostering trust in the voting process. Executive Director Jane Andersen described the group’s mission to provide a conservative perspective that rejects election denialism. They launched an ad campaign to appreciate election workers, advocating for a positive narrative around elections. Matt Kenney, a cofounder, stressed the need to restore trust in the electoral system, emphasizing that false narratives and distrust harm the party in the long term.
