PRESSETAHITI.COM
Puerto Rican newspapers and news from San Juan
In Puerto Rico, news is read mainly in Spanish in El Nuevo Día, Primera Hora, El Vocero and Metro, on NotiCel, in English in News is My Business, and watched on WAPA TV, Telemundo Puerto Rico or the public channel WIPR.
From El Nuevo Día in Ponce to the San Juan titles
El Nuevo Día was born in Ponce in 1909 before moving to San Juan in 1970. El Vocero appeared in 1974 and Primera Hora in 1997. The English-language San Juan Star, influential for many years, ceased publication in 2008.
Puerto Rico's reference dailies and popular titles
El Nuevo Día, the island's leading daily, covers politics, the economy and culture with investigations. Primera Hora, from the same group, and Metro Puerto Rico use a shorter format, while El Vocero, distributed free, focuses on justice and crime stories.
Spanish and English, two official languages
Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States, recognises Spanish and English as official languages. Spanish nevertheless dominates the press by far. News is My Business publishes economic news in English aimed at investors and companies.
Ponce, Mayagüez and the municipalities
The major San Juan outlets have correspondents in Ponce, Mayagüez, Arecibo or Caguas. Regional papers and local radio stations cover the 78 municipalities, their mayors, road conditions and power outages, a recurring subject on the island.
NotiCel and investigative journalism
NotiCel has established itself as a digital news and investigation outlet. The Center for Investigative Journalism, founded in 2007, publishes reports on public finances and transparency, often picked up by the island's daily papers and radio stations.
No local agency, so AP and EFE step in
Puerto Rico has no news agency of its own. Newsrooms use Associated Press for federal news and the Spanish agency EFE for Latin America. The website of La Fortaleza, the governor's seat, centralises official government press releases.
WIPR, WAPA TV and Telemundo Puerto Rico
The public corporation WIPR runs a television channel and radio stations. The most watched television news bulletins are those of WAPA TV and Telemundo Puerto Rico. On radio, news stations such as NotiUno or WKAQ drive political debate.
New York, Orlando and the Puerto Rican diaspora
More Puerto Ricans live on the mainland than on the island, notably in New York and Florida. El Diario of New York covers this community, and the United States press follows congressional debates on the island's status.
The oversight board, debt and winter baseball
Since the 2016 PROMESA law, the business press has closely followed the fiscal oversight board, public debt and energy. In sport, newspapers cover the winter baseball league, the BSN basketball championship and boxing, all of which draw loyal audiences.
An American legal framework for the press
The Puerto Rican press enjoys the protections of the First Amendment to the US Constitution, and the FCC regulates broadcasting. Debates focus mainly on access to public records and the transparency of government agencies, frequently challenged before the courts in San Juan.
How to compare Puerto Rican sources?
Most sites are free, with some content reserved for El Nuevo Día subscribers. Compare with the media of the Americas and the Spanish press, which watches the island closely, to broaden your reading of Caribbean and Hispanic topics.
Hurricanes, alerts and fake news
After Hurricane Maria in 2017 and Fiona in 2022, rumours about electricity or drinking water multiplied. Check with the National Weather Service in San Juan and official statements before passing on any alert to friends or family.
Following Puerto Rico news from a distance
- Read El Nuevo Día for politics and the economy, then Primera Hora for a quick summary of the day.
- Add NotiCel for investigations and rolling news on the government in San Juan.
- Watch the WAPA TV or Telemundo Puerto Rico news online.
- Follow News is My Business if you prefer economic news in English.
- During hurricane season, turn on alerts from the National Weather Service in San Juan.
- Always check the date of an article on debt or energy, as these stories keep evolving.
Access and subscriptions for Puerto Rican media
| Media type | Access | Note |
|---|---|---|
| El Nuevo Día | Mixed access, paid subscription | Variable price in US dollars |
| Primera Hora, El Vocero, Metro | Free | Advertising-funded |
| NotiCel | Free | Digital news outlet |
| WIPR | Free live | The island's public service |
| News is My Business | Free | English-language newsletter, terms indicative |
Practical pointers on Puerto Rican media
- Languages: mainly Spanish, English for the business press
- Public broadcaster: WIPR
- Reference daily: El Nuevo Día
- Business title: News is My Business
- Agencies used: Associated Press and EFE
- Time zone: Atlantic Time, UTC-4 with no daylight saving
- Currency: US dollar
Pitfalls to avoid with Puerto Rican news
- Assuming a law passed in Washington automatically applies to the island without reading local media analysis.
- Spreading a rumour of a general power outage without checking the statement from the operator or the government.
- Sharing images of Hurricane Maria from 2017 presented as those of a recent storm.
- Mistaking a parody account imitating El Nuevo Día or Primera Hora for the newspaper's official account.
- Thinking that New York diaspora media always reflect the opinion of people living on the island.
Questions about Puerto Rico's newspapers
What is the main daily newspaper in Puerto Rico?
El Nuevo Día, founded in 1909 in Ponce and based in San Juan since 1970, is the reference daily. It publishes investigations and political and economic analysis, and its group also produces Primera Hora, more popular and quicker to read.
Can you read the Puerto Rican press in English?
Partly. News is My Business publishes economic and financial news in English. The major dailies, such as El Nuevo Día, appear in Spanish, but the browser's automatic translation makes it possible to follow the essentials without major difficulty.
Do the island's media depend on the United States?
Legally, they fall under US federal law, with the FCC for broadcasting and the First Amendment for freedom of expression. Telemundo Puerto Rico belongs to an American group, but most newspapers remain locally owned and run.
Where can I follow Puerto Rican elections?
El Nuevo Día, NotiCel and the WAPA TV news cover the campaigns for governor and for resident commissioner in Washington. The State Elections Commission publishes official results, which should be checked before sharing any count.
Puerto Rican newspapers and media to read online
- El Nuevo DíaPuerto Rico's leading daily, the reference for politics, economy, public safety and cultural life on the island.
- Primera HoraPopular Puerto Rican daily offering news, crime, entertainment and sport, with photos and videos.
- El VoceroFree Puerto Rican daily covering politics, law and order, the economy and sport.
- NotiCelPuerto Rican digital news and investigative outlet covering government, justice, weather and society.
- Metro Puerto RicoPuerto Rican edition of the Metro network, offering daily local news, crime and entertainment.
- News is My BusinessEnglish-language business news site covering companies, investment and the economy of Puerto Rico.
- WAPA TVPuerto Rico's long-established private TV channel, whose Noticentro service delivers local news.
- Telemundo Puerto RicoTelemundo's Puerto Rico station offering newscasts, local news, weather reports and entertainment programming.