A Latino radio station takes on the fight against political disinformation

Radio Campesina, founded by the civil rights icon and labor leader Cesar Chavez, wants to ensure the state's Hispanic voters are not dissuaded from casting their ballots.

In the battleground state of Arizona, an unlikely media player is positioning itself as a major purveyor of truth amid a landscape filled with misinformation and disinformation — most notably some Republicans' false claims of election fraud in the state during the 2020 elections.

Radio Campesina in Phoenix, part of a network of eight Spanish-language radio stations scattered throughout California, Arizona and Nevada, is aiming to dispel doubts about voting and the election process ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

On Radio Campesina's recent morning show, "Punto de Vista" ("Point of View"), radio host Osvaldo Franco was fielding questions from listeners. One person called in asking whether their vote would get lost if they mailed in their ballot.

"I love that question; I love it because you can track your ballot," another host reassured the caller. Mail-in voting had been a popular way of voting in the state until some Republicans started sowing doubts about its safety following former President Donald Trump's loss in 2020.

It’s easy to overlook the significance of stations like Radio Campesina, given today’s crowded and increasingly global media landscape. But the network’s familial bond with the Latino community dates back decades.