What is renowned journalist Giannina Segnini going to do after leaving Costa Rican newspaper La Nación?
In 1994, Segnini created an investigative journalism unit focused on data collection that gained international attention. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) stated that “under the leadership of Segnini, the team of investigative journalists at La Nación uncovered ten international corruption cases, including the bribing scandal at Alcatel and another in Finland, which put two ex-presidents of Costa Rica in prison.”
According to the Tico Times, Segnini left La Nación, where she worked for 20 years, shortly after the Feb. 2 presidential elections in Costa Rica. Her resignation came in reaction to the newspaper’s election coverage and its decision not to publish an election poll by UNIMER.
Even though she has still not decided what her next project will be, Segnini says she would like to continue building connections between investigative journalism and technology, as well as publishing more, relevant stories and teaching journalists. She even considers the possibility that her next project could take her abroad.
“This is my fuel. Sometimes, it's very frustrating, but when I look into the shining eyes in the classroom, hope grows because there are people who want to learn and yet, they teach you,” said Segnini in a short interview with the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas during her visit to Mexico City, where she participated in a talk about a new project called “Chicas Poderosas,” which translates to "Powerful Girls."
The possibilities she considers are many, ranging from creating a multidisciplinary, investigative team for regional media companies to joining the academic world. Currently, Segnini is conducting presentations at Columbia University's School of Journalism in New York during the summer sessions.
“All the cards are on the table. It’s a journey, and I’m just going with the flow because only good things can come from it,” she says.
Before leaving, Segnini sent a card to the editorial office and to her team at the newspaper La Nación. “This is not a moment to be sad, desperate or frustrated because my time here is over,” said Segnini. In the card, she encouraged them to continue with investigative journalism. “Come to your desks happy every day, think of crazy, different, innovative topics while you brush your teeth or walk to the newspaper,” she said.
In her opinion, “losing the passion for journalism is worse than losing a job.”
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
