Hispanic Heritage Month: Puerto Rican Journalist J. Miguel Santiago Colón on Identity, Media, and Public Voices

As part of Radio Catskill’s Hispanic Heritage Month series, we welcomed back a familiar voice: J. Miguel Santiago Colón, who started his journey with us as an intern and is now producing stories at iHeart Media’s The Moment with Jorge Ramos and Ante Studios.

Colón spoke about his transition from Sullivan County to New York City’s media landscape, where his reporting now highlights Latino issues and communities across the U.S. He shared how his experience as a journalist in Puerto Rico—covering hurricanes, earthquakes, and political unrest—shaped his perspective, and how those lessons continue to guide his work today.

The conversation touched on Puerto Rican identity, the challenges of being both a U.S. citizen and part of a colony, and how cultural figures like Bad Bunny are helping to elevate Puerto Rican voices on a global stage. Colón also underscored the vital role of public media in giving space to Latino stories that too often go untold.

“Public media is the one place where I’ve always gotten a chance to talk about those subjects,” Colón said. “It’s where our culture, our music, and our struggles can be shared openly.”