February 20, 2023

“The lack of a basic understanding about Latinos is painfully clear at the highest levels of the publishing industry”

In opinion piece for Publishers Weekly, Congressman Castro decries Latino exclusion from America’s publishing industry

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) published an opinion piece in Publishers Weekly decrying Latino underrepresentation in the American publishing industry and calling on publishing houses to expand opportunities for Latino publishers, authors, and other industry professionals.

The opinion piece follows the release of Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports commissioned by Congressman Castro that found publishing – which is approximately 8 percent Latino – to be one of the worst fields in American media for Latino representation. Latinos make up approximately 18 percent of the overall American workforce and are overrepresented in media industry service roles (cafeteria workers, janitors, and others) at 22 percent of the sub-sector workforce but underrepresented in every media other sub-sector.

“The publishing industry has failed to tell Latino stories—and as a result, it’s failed to tell the full story of our country. Thankfully, publishing is in a unique position to bring about change. The industry sits at the nexus of entertainment and education and has freedom to elevate a

broad range of source material. A publisher might bet on hundreds of titles a year, but it only needs a few bestsellers to turn a profit. The business model of publishing allows for enormous risk-taking that can include Latino authors—if publishers are willing to give them a chance,” Congressman Castro wrote in today’s opinion.

To read the full opinion piece, click here.

Read the 2021 and 2022 GAO reports on Latino representation in American media.