Juan "Freddie Freak" Trujillo

Opposition to the Newspaper

Naturally, some people disagreed with the types of stories La Cucaracha ran, along with its emphasis on the chicano movement and culture. The primary opposition to the newspaper, at least initially, was comprised of other newspapers in the area. The Pueblo Star Journal, and the Pueblo Chieftain, known to Trujillo as The Pueblo Star Urinal, and Pueblo Chief Pain, respectively.

"They were always a pain in the ass. You know? This is why we started, mainly because we had to start a newspaper here to give the viewpoint of what the hell is really going on. Because you talk about “yellow journalism?” These suckers, I mean they’re—and they don’t change. You know? They don’t change because they don’t care, " (La Cucracha interview, 10-11).

 Trujillo asserts that the tension arose in a conflict of interests, in which the other mainstream news media outlets opposed the stories La Cucaracha published, specifically those concerning the rights and issues of Chicanos in Colorado.

Trujillo continues to claim that these competing outlets did not have the minority's interests at heart, and as such often butted heads with La Cucaracha. Despite La Cucaracha's generally amicable relations with those with whom it circulated amongst, the opposing viewpoints and priorities from the other newspapers in Pueblo lead to arguments. Even today Trujillo claims that they practiced yellow journalism, and that they have never changed their practices because they have no motivation to change.

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