News You Need on WhatsApp

In response to intensified immigration enforcement under Donald Trump, Documented NYC has adopted platforms like WhatsApp, WeChat, and Nextdoor to establish direct connections with immigrant communities.

The WeChat channel named 纽约移民记事网Documented (translated as the New York Immigrant Chronicle) serves as both a news source and a community aid center. Managed by Documented NYC, this channel caters to New York's Chinese-speaking population, reporting on critical issues like healthcare and immigration activities, as well as sharing details about community events, toy distributions, free food resources, and affordable housing opportunities. Subscribers can directly engage with journalists for advice on various concerns such as finding free English classes or navigating upcoming court dates.

Reaching the Right Audience

While mainstream media rarely prioritizes WeChat, April Xu discovered its potential when aiming to engage New York's Chinese immigrants. WeChat combines functions of platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Venmo, making it indispensable to the Chinese diaspora for staying connected.

Xu, involved in more than 50 chat groups each hosting up to 500 users, uses WeChat to bring news directly to the community. This platform enables Documented NYC to deliver resources critical to Chinese-speaking immigrants.

Digital News Strategies

Documented NYC's mission to support immigrant communities spans multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, and Haitian Creole. They aim to provide actionable information tailored to each community's preferred platforms. With a significant portion of New York's population being immigrants, many hailing from the Dominican Republic, China, and Jamaica, Documented emphasizes creating accessible content. For this reason, they use specialized platforms for content delivery: WeChat for Chinese, WhatsApp for Spanish, and Nextdoor for Caribbean audiences.

The organization understands the risks of over-relying on third-party platforms due to frequent algorithm changes that can drastically affect audience reach. This drives them to continuously adapt their approach, ensuring immigrants can access crucial information in their language and on platforms they frequently use.

Innovating Information Access

Documented's editor-in-chief, Ethar El-Katatney, highlights the importance of providing information in the community's spoken language via familiar platforms. This approach involves reporters dedicating substantial periods weekly to community interaction and integrating localized media habits into their strategies.

For instance, Ralph Thomassaint Joseph focuses on engaging the Caribbean community using Nextdoor. His work involves frequent platform interaction to identify and respond to community discussions relevant to migration and associated topics.

Challenges and Adaptations

Platforms like Nextdoor are generally not designed for news, making them challenging but rewarding for disseminating reliable information. Similarly, for Documented’s Spanish-speaking audience, WhatsApp serves as a vital tool, allowing Rommel Ojeda to forge direct connections and tailor news to community needs.

Instead of generic broadcasting, they leverage WhatsApp's business features to create personalized interactions, akin to customer service setups that encourage meaningful exchanges.

From Challenges to Community Trust

This innovative engagement strategy has led to impactful achievements, such as aiding a mother newly arrived from China connect with necessary health resources after reading a WeChat post. Documented ensures their journalism doesn't merely highlight immigration journeys but also supports immigrants in adapting to life in the U.S.

As Documented navigates the evolving media landscape, they prepare for future challenges by exploring potential new channels, including increased audio content for Caribbean audiences.

Conclusion

In essence, Documented NYC exemplifies community-centric journalism by aligning with immigrant audiences on their terms. This model not only amplifies the outlet’s reach but fortifies trust, fostering informed and empowered immigrant communities in New York City.