Tucson Welcomes Latino-Owned Spanish-Language Newspaper Two Years After La Estrella’s Closure

Two years after the city lost its only Spanish-language newspaper, La Estrella de Tucsón, Tucson will welcome a new Latino-owned digital news source, Somos Tucson, launching in August 2025, with no specific date just yet. 

As reported, La Estrella de Tucsón released its final edition on April 25, 2023. The newspaper's three employees were laid off by the company, Lee Enterprises, as part of larger cost-cutting efforts that affected the struggling newspaper industry.

In a city where almost 40% of people identify as Hispanic and many speak Spanish at home, the shutdown created a significant divide. La Estrella has been an essential source of community information and local news for Tucson's Hispanic community for many years beforehand.

The new publication is the first Latino-owned and run Spanish-language media company in Tucson. Somos Tucson hopes to serve a comparable function in educating and connecting the community, even if it won't provide a typical print newspaper like La Estrella.

"There’s a great need for accurate and professional information so they can make the best decisions. With less access to Spanish-language media and fewer reliable sources, it’s easier for us to be confused and easier for us to assume something that isn’t true," stated Lopez Ruelas, former journalist at La Estrella.

According to Lopez Ruelas, the Trump administration has made it more important than ever for Spanish-speaking citizens to have access to trustworthy information about and for their community.

However, Spanish-language media is now available in Tucson from a number of sources:

• Conecta Arizona operates an entirely Spanish-language website
• El Foco de Tucson (part of Tucson Spotlight) publishes Spanish articles
• Arizona Luminaria and Tucson Sentinel offer selected Spanish stories

In recent years, independent digital news businesses have expanded dramatically across the country. 

More than 700 nonprofit and independent channels have emerged, according to a Medill Local News Initiative report, and their growth is being bolstered by philanthropic assistance. As traditional newspapers keep on decreasing, this has helped finance new ideas.

There is promise for long-term Spanish-language journalism in Tucson because the digital format allows these outlets to serve specific audiences with fewer overhead expenses than traditional print media.

Somos Tucson's debut and other local media outlets' growth of Spanish-language content has driven community determination of reporting on Tucson's Hispanic community.