LatAm Journalism Review (LJR) summarized three panels dedicated to press freedom at the 12th edition of a major human rights and technology conference, RightsCon, held this year in Costa Rica. Journalists from Central America and the rest of Latin America discussed the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.
Disinformation narratives that seek to delay actions against climate change, a communication initiative to train communities on digital security, and protection tips for journalists covering the Amazon were lessons learned at the II Amazon Summit on Journalism and Climate Change, organized by Fundamedios, in Ecuador.
In view of the six-year prison sentence against journalist José Rubén Zamora for the alleged crime of money laundering, international and national organizations voiced their concern for the general situation of journalists in Guatemala, the weakening of its democracy, and for Zamora himself, who has at least two other open court cases against him.
In the book "The man with the white shoes: The life of the inventor of the dog-eat-dog world on Brazilian TV," journalist Maurício Stycer sheds light on the professional trajectory, personal history and innovations introduced by Jacinto Figueira Júnior, better known as The man with the white shoes. Stycer, a renowned TV critic in Brazil, explores the emergence of sensationalism, shock and amazement as central production values of TV journalism in the country.
On June 20, the Network for Diversity in Latin American Journalism will begin its second series of webinars to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in Latin American newsrooms through greater coverage of diversity issues and from a perspective of human rights. The series, which is in Spanish and has the support of the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, begins with the webinar "Stories with LGBTQI+ pride."
The Digital News Report 2023 reveals a declining interest in news in Latin America and the world, as well as a growth in the use of platforms such as TikTok to get information. LatAm Journalism Review (LJR) summarizes findings on news consumption in Argentina, Peru, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil.
After meeting during a Knight Center course on audio storytelling, two journalists collaborated across borders on an immersive podcast about a jailbreak of political prisoners that happened in the middle of Lake Titicaca in 1972. The course was a chance to meet, network and exchange experiences with colleagues working around the world.
To address the relentless violence and threats against journalists in Mexico, the human rights NGO Propuesta Cívica [Civic Proposal] established the Tejidos Solidarios [Weaving Solidarity] network. This initiative employs a unique methodology to provide psycho-emotional and legal support to the families of murdered and missing journalists. Additionally, it aims to honor their memory.
Although violence against journalism in the Caribbean hasn’t reached the levels of other parts of the continent, a recent increase of online attacks in Guyana is raising red flags, according to journalist Nazima Raghubir. She spoke about challenges Caribbean journalism faces, such as inadequate access to information laws and the reluctance of politicians to engage with the press.
After the arrest of José Rúben Zamora and the closure of elPeriódico — the newspaper he founded and ran —, several news outlets are defying government pressure and working together on investigations and fact-checking in Guatemala. Four journalists tell us how they continue to defend independent journalism in the country.
The Bruno and Dom Project, led by the French organization Forbidden Stories, brought together more than 50 journalists from 16 news outlets to continue the work of British journalist Dom Phillips, who was with Brazilian Indigenous affairs expert Bruno Pereira when the two were murdered in June 2022. LJR spoke with some of the journalists involved in this collaborative effort.
Latam Chequea, UNESCO and Chequeado seek to provide tools to more effectively combat the disinformation that circulates during elections through talks aimed at key actors in the electoral process - such as journalists, electoral bodies and high school teachers. The next talk aimed at journalists will be held on June 14.