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Washington, D.C. — Over 40 Hispanic publishers from across the United States gathered in the nation’s capital for the 2025 edition of the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP) Legislative Summit, held April 28–29. The two-day event offered a dynamic blend of policy advocacy, training, and high-level networking—culminating with a visit to the White House.
Attendees included publishers of influential Hispanic newspapers, digital platforms, and community-focused media from states coast to coast. The summit kicked off Monday with skill-building sessions focused on digital transformation, local journalism sustainability, and policy impact through storytelling.
The summit is not just about policy—it’s about empowering publishers who are the voice of their communities
On Tuesday, NAHP members headed to Capitol Hill, where they met with legislators and policy advisors to discuss issues affecting minority-owned media outlets. Topics ranged from federal advertising equity and local journalism support to immigration, education, and the digital divide in Hispanic communities.
Many legislators expressed a renewed commitment to working with trusted local news organizations that serve as lifelines for underserved populations. “This group of publishers are not just reporters—they are anchors of their communities,” said one congressional staffer during a roundtable discussion.
In a surprise twist, NAHP members received a last-minute invitation to the White House on the afternoon of April 29. Greeted by Liz Huston, a member of the White House Communications Team, the group was welcomed warmly and praised for their role in shaping the national dialogue.
“President Trump values reliable, community-connected newsrooms like yours,” Huston told the assembled publishers. “Your credibility and commitment to truth are vital to ensuring that accurate information reaches all corners of the country, especially in Spanish-speaking communities.”
This marked one of the first public-facing gestures by the new administration toward Hispanic media—a signal of the ongoing need for dialogue, representation, and inclusion in national conversations.
Among the attendees was Beyond Borders Gazette, proudly representing California’s Imperial Valley. Editor-in-Chief Ellie Burgueno spoke about the publication’s nine-year journey, its local weekly Imperial Valley Insight, and the upcoming launch of the Elite Industrial Directory—a publication designed to support economic development in the border region.
“In a binational community like ours, communication is power,” said Burgueno. “Being part of NAHP and showing up in places like the Capitol and the White House ensures that our people and our priorities are not left out of the national narrative.”
Burgueno’s participation highlighted the growing influence of border-region publications, which uniquely serve multicultural audiences in regions where local journalism is often underfunded or overlooked.
The summit underscored the significant economic and political clout of the Hispanic community in the United States. Hispanics now represent over 20% of the U.S. population, with projections showing continuous growth over the next five years. By 2030, more than 75.8 million Hispanic people will live in the U.S.
Economically, the Hispanic market is a powerhouse. Hispanic consumers’ spending power soared by 79% between 2014 and 2024, reaching an astonishing $2.5 trillion. To put this in perspective, if the U.S. Latino market were its own country, it would rank as the fifth-largest economy in the world .
Politically, the Hispanic electorate continues to grow in influence. In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Latino voters played a pivotal role. Exit polls suggest that Donald Trump achieved a record share of the vote of Latinos, though a majority still voted for Kamala Harris . Notably, Latino men under 40 showed increased support for Trump, with 48% backing him, influenced by economic concerns and targeted outreach .
These statistics highlight the critical importance of engaging the Hispanic community through trusted media channels. Publishers like those in NAHP play a vital role in informing and mobilizing this diverse and growing demographic.
As the summit concluded, many publishers echoed a renewed sense of purpose and unity. The challenges facing Hispanic media—from shrinking ad revenues to algorithm-driven news cycles—are steep. But so too is the resilience of the journalists, editors, and entrepreneurs who gathered in Washington to make their voices heard.
“Events like this prove that we’re not just surviving—we’re leading,” said a publisher from Texas. “And we’re doing it together.”
The NAHP Legislative Summit 2025 left attendees inspired, better connected, and prepared to amplify the voices of millions of Hispanic Americans