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
One Texan's push for a new border bridge has support from key politicians. Locals warn its a trap.
Houston Chronicle | July 22, 2026
Jason Buch, Benjamin Wermund, and Alfredo Corchado
Maverick County, Texas, has struggled for years to provide basic services to the unincorporated communities surrounding this border city. Wells in agricultural areas like Quemado—located about 20 miles northwest of Eagle Pass—have run dry, and the water flowing through a nearby irrigation canal has been reduced to a trickle. Read more
World Cup spurs Mexican-Americans to reconnect: ‘Putting on the Mexican jersey this time took on a different meaning’
El Pais | July 8, 2026
Alfredo Corchado
LOS ANGELES, CA -- Mexico’s improbable World Cup winning streak ended Sunday with a loss to England, but it didn’t keep the team’s heart and tenacity from delivering one successful outcome: A notable increase in Mexican-Americans venturing south to reconnect with their roots, language and culture. Read more
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
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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."