Puente News Collaborative is a bilingual nonprofit news organization, convener, and funder committed to preserving local news as a public good by investing in newsrooms, supporting journalists, and filling critical gaps in reporting across the U.S.-Mexico border.
The collapse of local news
Number of news outlets along the U.S. - Mexico border
Number of news outlets along the U.S. - Mexico border
What Is Happening
Across the U.S., more than 3,200 local newspapers have shut down. Of the 25 counties along the U.S.-Mexico border, nearly half have only one or no newsroom at all.
Why It Matters
With the collapse of local news, communities see a concerning decrease in voter participation, civic engagement, and government accountability reporting, and corresponding increases in community polarization, government waste, and disinformation campaigns.
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Stories from the collaborative
Mexican Officials Have Become Informants for the Trump Administration
The New York Times | June 28, 2026
Steve Fisher, Jack Nicas, and Alan Feuer
President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico has pushed back against U.S. investigations into Mexican politicians. Now some politicians want to cooperate. As the Trump administration ramps up its investigations into Mexico’s government, elected officials in the country’s governing party have been quietly offering themselves to U.S. authorities as informants against fellow party members, according to eight people involved in the conversations. Read more
Mothers of Mexico's 'disappeared' use World Cup to spotlight cartel killings
San Antonio Express-News | June 22, 2026
Angelo Claure
MEXICO CITY - During the World Cup’s opening match at Mexico City's Banorte Stadium, grieving mothers of los desaparecidos — "the disappeared" — staged a protest outside the arena, drawing the attention of journalists covering the world's most-watched sports championship. Wearing the jerseys of Mexico’s national team, the women held signs with photographs of their loved ones. One mother’s amplified cry pierced the festive atmosphere: “Negligent government, give us back our children!” Read more
A Pause for a Cup
KVIA | June 11, 2026
Alfredo Corchado
MEXICO CITY – In the borderlands of Mexico and the United States, there are clear signs of a political, economic, and social relationship slipping to an acutely low ebb. But as the games get underway, there is also a growing buzz of optimism that the game of soccer can hopefully turn the page on geographical rancor and bring together North America - Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Read more
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In the news
Puente News Executive Editor Alfredo Corchado receives the 2026 I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence
In the news
Puente News Executive Editor Alfredo Corchado receives the 2026 I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence
"Alfredo Corchado, executive editor of the Puente News Collaborative, has been chosen to receive the 2026 I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence in recognition of his work directing Puente’s innovative, partnership-driven approach to reporting along both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border."