NAHJ voices concerns over the firing of senior Latina editor at San Diego Union-Tribune 

July 7, 2025 — The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) expresses deep concern over the firing of Laura Castañeda, the most senior Latina journalist at the San Diego Union-Tribune, noting it comes amid deep newsroom cuts that have severely diminished Latino representation at the paper.

Castañeda, who was deputy opinion editor, is an award-winning journalist with decades of experience and an impeccable professional reputation. She is president of NAHJ’s San Diego chapter and a mentor to countless Latino journalists. During her career, she has won numerous awards, including her third Emmy and honors for opinion writing at the Union-Tribune.

Castañeda said her abrupt dismissal on June 12, 2025, came hours after the publisher rejected an editorial she co-authored criticizing the deployment of federal troops to quell protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles, raising broader concerns about self-censorship in newsrooms. The company says her dismissal was unrelated to the editorial and she was one of six Union-Tribune employees notified of termination that day.

The dismissal of Castañeda spotlights a troubling pattern of cuts and declining coverage of San Diego’s Latino community since the Union-Tribune was acquired by Southern California News Group, part of MediaNews Group, a subsidiary of Alden Global Capital, a hedge fund. Alden has become the country’s second-largest newspaper owner through acquisitions, aggressive cost cutting, and extracting profits from company assets such as real estate.

Under previous ownership by Patrick Soon-Shiong, the Union-Tribune expanded its coverage of Latino communities, who make up more than a third of the population of San Diego County, which borders Mexico. After Alden acquired the outlet in 2023, the publication closed its Spanish-language website and weekly tabloid, reducing the number of Latino journalists. Overall, the editorial staff has been reduced by more than half, Castañeda estimates.

“The dismissal of Laura Castañeda raises important questions about newsroom priorities, highlighting ongoing conversations about representation and voice in media leadership,” said  NAHJ President Dunia Elvir. “NAHJ calls on the Union-Tribune and its parent companies to prioritize support for independent local journalism, recognizing its importance in fostering public trust.”

Frank Pine, the executive editor for SCNG papers including the Union-Tribune, said Castañeda’s termination “along with five others, was part of a broader reduction that was part of our financial planning for the new fiscal year.” He did not respond to questions about the number of Latino journalists, but said, “The San Diego Union-Tribune is committed to diversity in the workplace and in its reporting.”