15 Spanish Newspapers in Latin America for Intermediate Learners
Reading Spanish newspapers is a fantastic way to expand your vocabulary, increase your grammar knowledge, and deepen your reading comprehension skills.
Whether you’re drawn to politics, business, sports, or culture, you can find intermediate-level Spanish articles on the topics that most interest you.
Spanish newspapers are great for language learners because they use current language. You won’t come across dated words that are no longer used (the kind that often appear in classic literature). What’s more, Spanish newspapers use common, formal language rather than slang.
Keep reading for tips on reading Spanish newspapers for intermediate learners, and a curated list of 15 reliable Latin American Spanish newspapers to peruse!
How to Learn by Reading Spanish Newspapers
Find news sources that interest you.
The more interested you are, the more motivated you’ll be! You can tailor your learning to your interests. Do you love politics, sports, or music? No matter the subject, there’s something available to you in Spanish for whatever topics fascinate you.
Opt for international stories or universal topics.
They’re easier to understand than domestic news stories that often require background knowledge. By sticking to world news and topics that you like, you avoid having to do background research.
Set a realistic goal.
For example, aim to read one or two Spanish articles per day. It’s ideal to read Spanish newspapers frequently in short spurts.
Take notes.
Jot down a few new words you learn from each article in a notebook. Remember, you don’t have to look up every word that is new to you. Often, you’ll be able to figure out the meaning of a sentence with context clues. Review your notes after each news reading session. Reread the list every now and again to reinforce what you’ve learned.
Engage with the material.
As you read, try to answer the questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how. Consider writing a short summary in Spanish of a news story immediately after reading it. This is a great way to apply the information you learned from the article!
15 Latin American Spanish Newspapers
The articles you’ll find within the online pages of these Spanish newspapers use everyday Spanish grammatical structures and vocabulary.
1. El Espectador
El Espectador, the oldest Colombian newspaper still in circulation, has a massive readership.
El Espectador suffered from an economic crash in the early 2000s, dropping down to only a weekly publication. Its daily format was revived in 2008, and it continues to offer a left-leaning stance on Colombian politics.
2. Noticias Univision
Their headquarters is based in the U.S., but their content is distributed to Spanish speakers around Latin America as well as those in the States.
The articles are written by people who live in Latin America (or the U.S.). Noticias Univision (Univision News) is part of the television network Univision.
3. El Mercurio
Based in Chile, El Mercurio is a conservative daily newspaper that publishes various editions throughout the country. In fact, the Valparaíso edition was founded in 1827, making it the oldest newspaper in both Chile—and the entire Spanish-speaking world!
4. El Universal, México
Founded in 1916, Mexico’s El Universal has one of the largest circulations of all the country’s newspapers. It began as a way to spread the word of the Mexican Revolution and defend the newly written Mexican Constitution. Today, El Universal proudly claims to represent all political views yet has been criticised for pandering to the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party.
5. La Nación, Argentina
A leading conservative morning daily, La Nación is based in Buenos Aires and has a countrywide circulation. It is one of the oldest Latin American publications, founded by an ex-Argentinian president in 1870. This Spanish newspaper’s website is one of the most popular Spanish-language news sites in the world.
La Nación has published the work of many high-profile Latin American writers including Jose Martí, Jorge Luis Borges, and Mario Vargas Llosa.
6. El HuffPost
Okay, so it’s not exactly a Spanish newspaper but El HuffPost in Spanish is an excellent source of news articles for intermediate Spanish learners.
El HuffPost, originally El Huffington Post, launched in 2012 as the Spanish edition of the popular center-left US online news conglomerate and blog,The Huffington Post.
It implements the successful Huffington Post formula that combines original content and the latest news with a broad network of blogs and the mass participation of users. Over 50% of El HuffPost readers access the site through social networks.
7. El Universal, Venezuela
The Venezuelan El Universal tends to side not with the ruling parties but with the opposition (for example, Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro). El Universal was founded by poet Andrés Mata, and it’s currently led by the brother of a Venezuelan musician.
8. El Comercio
Founded in 1839, El Comercio is Peru’s oldest newspaper. Its daily circulation is around 120,000. El Comercio closed down for a period in the 19th century due to its political leanings.
9. La Prensa, Nicaragua
Published and circulated in Nicaragua, La Prensa is known for harshly criticising the country’s government for corruption. It’s the oldest and most-read daily newspaper in Nicaragua.
Alongside strong denouncement of the country’s power structures, it also supports democracy and frequently features articles on religion.
10. La Prensa, Panamá
Panama’s Spanish newspaper of the same name, La Prensa, circulates over 42,000 papers daily. Founded in 1980, this publication positions itself as one of Panama’s most important.
11. La Nación, Paraguay
La Nación in Paraguay launched in 1995. On its online site, this newspaper covers politics, sports, business, global news, and more.
12. Prensa Libre
Out of Guatemala, Prensa Libre is a newspaper published in Guatemala City and distributed nationwide. It was formerly the most widely circulated newspaper in the country. As of 2007, it has the second-widest circulation. Founded in 1951, Prensa Libre is considered a local newspaper of record.
13. El Diario de Yucatán
El Diario de Yucatán is a major regional Mexican daily newspaper headquartered in Mérida, Yucatán. The newspaper covers the three Mexican states of Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo. Launched in 1925, El Diario de Yucatán has a daily circulation of approximately 70,000.
14. La Nacion
La Nacion is one of Costa Rica’s national newspapers. The newspaper is a general purpose newspaper that circulates daily (except on Good Friday, the following day, and January 2).
15. El Telegrafo
Founded in 1884, El Telegrafo is Ecuador’s oldest newspaper. It is a Spanish newspaper out of Guayaquil.
Have a Conversation about the News in Spanish
Reading is one of the four keys to mastering Spanish, while speaking is another equally important part of your learning journey. Would you like to talk about the news articles you’re reading and sharpen your Spanish speaking skills? Talk with our native Spanish-speaking teachers from Guatemala. They’re equipped to meet you at your level and would love to meet you for a free trial class!
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