NAHJ Statement on FCC Approval of Nexstar-Tegna Merger

March 20, 2026 — The Federal Communications Commission has approved the Nexstar-Tegna merger. The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) has been tracking this process closely and our position has not changed: a consolidation of this scale carries obligations that go well beyond the balance sheet.

Those obligations are not just moral. Broadcast licenses in the United States are granted on the condition that licensees serve the public interest. Nexstar has now absorbed one of the largest collections of local television stations in the country, and with those licenses comes a legal and civic responsibility to the communities those stations reach every day. NAHJ intends to hold that standard.

NAHJ is calling on Nexstar to prioritize the recruitment, retention and advancement of Latino journalists and other underrepresented groups, to invest in journalism that reflects the actual diversity of its audiences and to partner with organizations like ours to strengthen newsroom trust and cultural competence. We are also urging policymakers to monitor the long-term effects of this merger on local journalism, particularly around representation and accountability.

“We recognize the scale and influence of this decision, and with it comes responsibility,” said Julio-César Chávez, VP of Broadcast and chair of the NAHJ Advocacy Committee. “As media ownership expands, so must the commitment to the communities these stations serve. We stand ready to work with Nexstar and industry leaders to ensure this moment leads to meaningful progress, not missed opportunity.”

The gap between Latino population growth and Latino representation in newsrooms is well documented. Latinos make up nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population and 25 percent of all Americans under 18. U.S. Latinos contribute significantly to the nation’s economy, with an annual economic output of $3.2 trillion, positioning them among the world’s leading economies. 

A federal GAO report found that Hispanic representation in the media industry grew by just one percentage point over an entire decade. This merger does not happen in a vacuum. It happens against that backdrop.

The local newsrooms now under Nexstar’s control have a direct responsibility to Latino communities, not just in the stories they cover, but in who is hired, who leads and whose judgment shapes the journalism. Consolidation on this scale does not have to mean reduced representation. But it will not improve without clear, public commitments from ownership.

NAHJ is ready to work with media organizations, regulators and industry leaders who share that commitment. The future of local journalism depends on it.