The Los Angeles Times recently announced the launch of De Los, a new community-driven brand and platform to explore all things Latinidad. 

De Los offers reporting and commentary, graphic comics and topical social videos, a forum to celebrate or critique the news of the day, and a way to connect through a shared sense of culture and identity.

Kevin Merida, L.A. Times executive director, shared that he’s “incredibly proud of the De Los team for pioneering a groundbreaking new storytelling brand.”

“Created for and by Latinos, De Los is an expression of both the responsibility we have to offer more to the diasporic Latino communities that are largely underserved by news media and the opportunity we have to engage with a population that is shaping our future.”

According to recent U.S. Census data, Latinos make up about 49% of the population in Los Angeles, equal to about 4.9 million people. In addition, more than 100 journalists in L.A. Times’ newsroom are Latino. 

De Los is led by L.A. Times’ General Manager for Latino Initiatives Angel Rodriguez, Editorial Director Fidel Martinez, and Design Director Martina Ibáñez-Baldor.

This is just the latest Latino-centric platform for the publication. The Latino Initiatives team has launched the Latinx Files newsletter, hosted by Fidel Martinez, as well as various projects, such as the digital Día de Muertos altar, the Chicano Moratorium 50 Years Later, Fernandomania @ 40 and LA Vanguardia. 

Each of those center on the idea of belonging to, or being of, multiple cultures, and De Los is another platform to bring to life the internal conversations, larger debates, creative joys and many nuances of the U.S. Latino experience. 

“Latino identity, and the term ‘Latino’ itself, is a shortcut for describing an incredibly diverse group of people,” said Rodriguez.

He added that the De Los team is “excited about digging into what that means, every single day, as we take a look at the things we have in common, show how different our cultures and identities can be, and bring everyone together for an ongoing conversation about the thread that ties us all together.”

Since the beginning of June, De Los has been active within the community, introducing social content on both TikTok and Instagram. 

As part of its launch, De Los will showcase a new video series, called “Los Angeles Times F.A.M., produced by L.A. Times Studios. Today, July 13, De Los will present an episode on Highland Park, and on August 10, will premiere an episode on South L.A. Each will feature foods, art and music made by Latinos.