In April, YCC en Español launched a project called “Pregúntale al Experto,” or “Ask the expert.” Our goal for this project is to invite our readers to send in your questions about climate change, which are then answered by one of our experts. Our experts are Miami-based journalist Johani Ponce and University of Puerto Rico professors Rafael Méndez Tejeda and Luis Alexis Rodriguez. Since April, we have received over 30 questions ranging from how the Earth’s rotation around the sun affects the climate to how to keep dogs safe in extreme heat. Features Editor Pearl Marvell and Johani Ponce sat down to talk about how the project is going and why it is important.
This discussion has been edited and condensed.
Pearl Marvell: What do you think about our “Ask the Expert” project, and why do you think it’s important for us to do it?
Johani Ponce: I believe it is very important for the Latino community because, as we know, it is one of the communities worst hit by climate change and extreme weather events for various reasons: the jobs we have and the places where we live. It’s normal for people to be concerned. But I think the important thing about what we are doing is to know specifically and concretely what doubts people have. By knowing the doubts people have, we can develop articles about them. We can dispel those doubts and not just see climate change from a negative or apocalyptic perspective but as an opportunity to do things right. More than having the community worried, we want the community to be engaged in changing the course of things, because people can definitely do it.
That’s why I think it’s important for everyone to express their concerns, their doubts about what they want us to talk about — not only to be able to do things but also to combat misinformation. Because the only way to combat misinformation is by doing good journalism; it’s the only way. When we do quality journalism, all that misinformation becomes disarmed. That’s why I think what we are doing here is extremely important.
Pregúntale al experto
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Pearl: What do you think about the questions we’ve already received? Is there any topic that surprised you? For me, it was interesting because there are very different questions. We have very scientific questions and others that are more about what one can do in daily life.
Johani: Well, I like that the questions are very varied and directed to different experts. I like that a lot, and as you said, there are some very scientific ones, some about pets, for example, or concerns that young people have about rising sea levels. What surprises me is that I see a very diverse, very heterogeneous audience. There seem to be very informed and very technical people, and there are people who just want to solve everyday problems with that information.
I am grateful for the questions because we are reaching an audience, and it is interesting to see the diversity of people, the diversity of questions, and that’s what ultimately tells us that climate change, extreme events, and this entire crisis are impacting everyone at all levels.
Pearl: Exactly.
Johani: We see climate change in our daily lives, in education, in the future, in the present, in everything. This is reflected in the questions we’ve received. As I’ve mentioned, I’m extremely grateful and love this initiative and this exercise because there are things I’m not always aware of. For instance, I love animals but don’t have the opportunity to have one, and I realize the impact it has, and that animals can truly suffer a lot. We need to take necessary measures to protect them. This forces us to research and see different things, not always staying in that bubble, as I’ve seen with some climate journalists (or environmentalists) who are in an academic bubble where we want to handle many figures and studies, which are very important too, but we must communicate with our audience in a simpler and more direct way.
Pearl: It’s a good representation of the different Latino communities that exist. We have questions from Arizona, Puerto Rico, and other parts of the United States.
Johani: That’s very important because Americans often think of Latinos as a homogeneous group, but we are very heterogeneous. I even see it here in Florida. It’s not the same to talk to a Latino from Miami as it is to talk to a Latino who lives in Orlando, who are mostly Puerto Rican, or one who lives in the northern part of the state. So imagine the difference between a Latino living in Miami, one living in California, one in New York, one in Arizona, and one in Texas.
We need to find the formula to reach that audience, and the only way is by knowing how they express themselves, what problems they have, how you can reach them, and what solutions you need to provide. This is why programs like this in Spanish are so important. It is common just to translate the same articles from English to Spanish, but as journalists, we need to “sell” this product too.
A marketer, when selling something, has to conduct market research on that specific audience. For example, whether they are younger people, middle-aged, White, African American, Latino, etc. The same has to happen with the articles we write. They must be thought out for the audience we are targeting. We can’t lump all Latinos into the same category. That’s why I believe it’s extremely important to write and produce those news articles specifically in Spanish.
Another thing I find extremely important is to understand that we have always had a narrative of Latinos as victims.
Yes, it’s true that we have suffered from many things and many disparities, but there are many Latinos who are activists. Many Latina women are activists and are generating change and truly leading climate action. We need to change the narrative and let people know about all the positive things being done. There are many Latinos, many women, and many young people who are taking action. So I think it’s important not only to focus on the problems but also on the actions our community is taking and leading the necessary change that will come. We don’t know how long it will take, but a big change is coming, and a significant transition to clean energy is already underway. Highlighting the work we are doing, the work that we Latinos are doing, is crucial.
Pearl: We recently published a study on climate change which showed that Latinos are the demographic most willing to work together collectively to affect change at the government level (63%). It’s very important to talk about this, about what communities and these activists are doing. It might be a matter of not having the government support that they need. There is a lot of resilience within Latino communities because they know how to get things done on their own. For me, it’s super important to cover this topic in our reporting because it’s happening in Miami, in Puerto Rico, etc., and it seems like there is more community strength to mitigate what’s happening.
Johani: Yes, because it’s important for people to understand that this goes beyond political parties and agendas. When a hurricane comes, as someone said a few days ago, it doesn’t say, “Look, I’m going to make landfall where the Republicans are,” or “I’m going to make landfall where the Democrats live.” The hurricane destroys everything in its path.
Climate change and the climate crisis are not just about thinking of the planet; it’s about thinking of our children, our children’s children, and the future. Because if you analyze (as Rafael Méndez and Luis Rodriguez can better explain), the planet will adapt. The planet will adapt to the changes that come, but humans will not. So it goes beyond that. It’s something that transcends much further, and we must think about the future.
Of course, people need to take measures in their daily lives. It’s what we’ve always talked about: taking climate action, informing others about what’s happening. But perhaps the most immediate action is to vote for the agenda that one believes is most beneficial for their future and community.
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