In 1970, Juan Gonzales graduated from San Francisco State University and was invited to help develop a journalism class for the newly established ethnic studies program.
He took this opportunity to start a bilingual newspaper as a final project for his class.
Thus, El Tecolote, which translates to ‘the owl’ in Spanish, was born on August 24, 1970, thanks to $400 raised through a community fundraiser.
With a small staff of about ten volunteers—half students and half residents from the Mission District—Gonzales initially planned to commit five years to the publication.
“Five years turned into 55 years,” Gonzales said, laughing as he reflects on the long journey of El Tecolote.
The newspaper initially operated out of garages and various makeshift spaces throughout the Mission and Excelsior neighborhoods, including a residence at El Centro Latino on Potrero Street for several years.
During its first decade, the founders organized monthly fundraisers, selling menudo and hosting dances to support the newspaper’s operations.
In 2000, El Tecolote was able to purchase its own building, ensuring a permanent home for the publication.
Over five decades later, Gonzales proudly reports that El Tecolote is the longest-running bilingual newspaper in California and considers its continued existence a “dream come true.”
Throughout its history, El Tecolote has captured the evolving landscape of the Mission District, reporting on important issues affecting the community.
In the early 1970s, the publication launched an investigative series revealing that Spanish speakers were experiencing longer response times when calling 911 due to a lack of Spanish-speaking operators.
The paper also scrutinized Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital for insufficient translator services, leading the hospital to hire 26 trained translators after the heartbreaking story of a Spanish-speaking mother who lost her baby due to inadequate care.
In 1989, an article highlighted the early signs of an impending homelessness crisis within the Latinx community.
The story illustrated how families often took in relatives facing homelessness, thus masking the growing issue.
In 1990, El Tecolote reported on one of the first support groups for Latinas living with AIDS, painting a poignant picture of their lives and struggles.
The paper has consistently covered police harassment of lowrider culture, changes in immigration laws, and the waves of gentrification that have displaced thousands of Latinx individuals from their homes.
Throughout all these challenges, El Tecolote has remained committed to its mission of addressing and reporting on news that shapes and affects the lives of Latinx and immigrant communities in San Francisco.
To mark its 55-year milestone, the publication will host an anniversary party on August 22, 2025, at its office located at 2958 24th St.
The festivities promise an array of activities, including live music, food, drinks, a raffle, limited-edition merchandise, and a piñata, all reflecting the vibrant Latinx culture.
Recently, El Tecolote has gained recognition from major outlets like The New York Times, receiving numerous awards, including multiple accolades at the California Journalism Awards in 2024 and 13 awards from the SF Press Club in 2023, including the overall excellence award.
The publication has also proven to be a nurturing ground for aspiring journalists, with many who have stepped into prominent roles at various media outlets across the city.
Alumni like Laura Waxmann, Santiago Mejia, Carlos Avila, Cami Dominguez, and Hector Tobar have all spent time reporting for El Tecolote, describing the experience as a tight-knit, family-like environment where they honed their skills together.
“It was awesome. We were kind of a little family,” recalled Waxmann, who worked with the paper from 2012 to 2014.
Her sentiments reflect how the bonds formed during those years have lasted well beyond their time at El Tecolote.
Current editor-in-chief, Erika Carlos, emphasized the enriching relationship between the paper and its readers as one of the most rewarding aspects of her role.
“I’ll get emotional when I go to a taco shop and I see an older man looking through the immigration tracker,” Carlos shared, highlighting the importance of the publication’s updates on immigration policies under the Trump administration.
Under Carlos’ leadership, El Tecolote has reached its largest paid staff since it began, with a bi-weekly print circulation of 7,000.
The paper actively engages with its readers by hosting events and maintaining a Spanish WhatsApp channel, where community members can ask questions directly to the staff.
Recently, there has been an emphasis on visual storytelling, with impactful pieces such as an investigation into the challenges faced by Latinx families under new RV regulations and an in-depth photo essay documenting a day laborer who lost his leg in a work-related accident.
Pablo Unzueta, the reporter behind the day laborer story, described the freedom to explore untold narratives as a significant advantage of working at El Tecolote.
“It’s been really nice to be able to have that freedom to really dive into stories that don’t often get told or photographed,” Unzueta stated.
As the 55th anniversary celebration approaches, both Gonzales and his team are excited to come together with the community they serve and honor the publication’s enduring legacy.
image source from：missionlocal
