New newspaper caters to growing Hispanic population

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Posted 3:04PM on Sunday, November 10, 2002

VIDALIA - In southeast Georgia where the Hispanic population is quickly growing, many immigrants can speak English put can't read it. So a stereo shop owner decided to start a Spanish-language newspaper that has quickly grown in its first three months. La Voz Hispana, which means ``The Hispanic Voice,'' brings news from Mexico and South America to migrant farm workers in several cities. Now in its 13th week, circulation has grown from 1,000 readers to 3,000, said Alex Shokoh-Alai, who started the paper and sells advertising for it. The paper has only a few local stories. ``I think it will grow more,'' he said. ``You see every day there's more and more Spanish people in the area.'' The newspaper brings information from many of the immigrants' home countries, and it also helps them adjust to living in America, said Oscar Lopez, a local leader in the Hispanic community who translates articles into Spanish before publication. ``We are trying to show (Hispanics) what kind of services there are,'' Lopez said. ``We are having a good, good response.'' The newspaper advertises a service operated by Lopez that helps Hispanics with a variety of problems, including immigration issues. Shokoh-Alai estimates there are 11,000 legal Hispanics and 6,500 illegal immigrants in the newspaper's 10-county distribution area. ``What we are trying to do is help them be here legally,'' he said. The weekly paper is sold at newsstands in stores and restaurants for 50 cents. There's a payment slot where buyers are on their honor to pay. Some don't pay, but Shokoh-Alai said he's more interested in boosting circulation. The tabloid-sized paper has attracted enough advertisers to grow from 24 to 32 pages. R&D Used Auto Parts in Hazelhurst, along with other businesses that advertise in the paper, wants to reach out to the growing spending power of Hispanics. ``We do feel like it's going to be a good thing,'' said Rhonda Walsh, who co-owns R&D. ``There are just so many Hispanics in Vidalia now.'' There are at least four other Hispanic papers in Georgia, according to the Georgia Press Association.