The digital media-sphere has been thriving over the last few years in the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking Americas. Crucially, many of these “new digitals” are not acting alone. Across the continents, they’re collaborating with each other to bring out stories in a cooperative way.
By Ricardo Ginés
Editor: Tyler McBrien
Illustration: Yiorgos Bagakis
The digital media-sphere has been thriving over the last few years in the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking Americas.
This is particularly true for investigative, fact-checking and narrative platforms. Some have erupted due to new expansions - or restrictions - in the freedom of press. Others were born out of new digital possibilities, especially in the ground-breaking economies of Brazil and Mexico.
Crucially, many of these “new digitals” are not acting alone. Across the continents, they’re collaborating with each other to bring out stories in a cooperative way.
The list below, indexed by country in alphabetical order, intends to present a collection of new digital outlets that promote or actually perform investigative projects. That’s why we prioritised these newer outlets over traditional newspapers with a strong tradition in investigative journalism, like La Nación in Argentina, Folha de S.Paulo in Brazil or El Tiempo in Colombia.
This introduction to initiatives in the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking Americas could be the first step of an Atlas of Investigative Initiatives worldwide. In any case, it could provide inspiration as well as foster collaborative projects across continents.
We hope this list will evolve and expand, and warmly welcome any feedback and suggestions of additional independent media organisations, networks and other initiatives using investigative methods to get to the core of issues in their communities and across borders.
ARGENTINA
Name: Cosecha Roja
Type: judicial / investigative
Areas of focus: judicial and court reporting, organised crime, violence, security
Link: http://cosecharoja.org/
Name: Chequeado
Type: fact-checking / investigative
Areas of focus: fact-checking, health issues, education
Link: https://chequeado.com/
Name: Revista Anfibia
Type: non-fiction / investigative
Areas of focus: gender, new narratives, podcast, media essays
Link: http://revistaanfibia.com/
BOLIVIA
Name: Muy Waso
Type: local news / investigative
Areas of focus: health issues, colonial history, gender, minorities
Link: https://muywaso.com/
Name: RaiBolivia
Type: promotion of conservation and biodiversity through environmental journalism
Areas of focus: environment, training of Bolivian journalists in investigative techniques and storytelling
Link: https://www.raibolivia.org/
BRASIL
Name: Repórter Brasil
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: human rights reporting, environment, education
Link: https://reporterbrasil.org.br/
Name: Agência Pública
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: human rights, corruption, transparency of public administration
Link: https://apublica.org
Name: Abraji
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: investigative journalism and data
Link: https://www.abraji.org.br/
Name: Poder360
Type: investigative / local news
Areas of focus: investigative journalism and data
Link: https://www.poder360.com.br/
Name: Amazônia Real
Type: investigative / local news
Areas of focus: the Amazon, native people, environment
Link: https://amazoniareal.com.br/
Name: Fiquem Sabendo
Type: investigative, data
Areas of focus: public spending, education, security, transparency
Link: https://fiquemsabendo.com.br/
CHILE
Name: CIPER
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: public procurement, democracy, violence, military
Link: https://www.ciperchile.cl
Name: Pro Acceso
Type: transparency platform
Areas of focus: transparency of the public sphere
Link: https://www.proacceso.cl/
COLOMBIA
Name: Consejo de Redacción
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: investigative journalism, collaborative projects
Link: https://consejoderedaccion.org/
Name: Connectas
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: cross-border projects, connecting investigative initiatives across the Americas
Link: https://www.connectas.org/
Name: Vorágine
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: corruption, human rights, graphic novels
Link: https://voragine.co/
Name: InsightCrime
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: organized crime in Latin America and the Caribbean
Link: https://insightcrime.org/
Name: La Silla Vacía
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: power structures in Colombia, fact-checking
Link: https://lasillavacia.com/
Name: Verdad Abierta
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: investigations, civil war, paramilitary groups, organized crime, social movements
Link: https://verdadabierta.com/
Name: Agenda propia
Type: investigative / Dialogue
Areas of focus: environment, indigenous people, minorities
Link: https://www.agendapropia.co/
Name: Rutas del Conflicto
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: civil war, massacres, survivors, social activists, data journalism
Link: https://rutasdelconflicto.com/
Name: Cuestión Pública
Type: investigative / data journalism
Areas of focus: power structures, private sector
Link: https://cuestionpublica.com/
Name: La Cola de Rata
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: culture, new narratives
Link: https://www.lacoladerata.co/
Name: Pacifista!
Type: investigative / new narratives
Areas of focus: violence, civil war, freedom of expression, drugs, video activism
Link: https://pacifista.tv/
COSTA RICA
Name: Interferencia
Type: investigative radio / web-reporting
Areas of focus: audio and print reporting, environment, migration
Link: https://radios.ucr.ac.cr/interferencia/
Name: Punto y aparte
Type: social journalism, education
Areas of focus: information against social risks, inequality
Link: http://www.puntoyaparte-ca.com/
Name: Doble Check
Type: fact-checking
Areas of focus: audio and print reporting, environment, migration, democracy
Link: https://doblecheck.cr/
ECUADOR
Name: GK
Type: local and collaborative investigations
Areas of focus: transnational projects, fact-checking, news in context, environment, gender and transparency
Link: https://gk.city/
Name: Periodismo sin cadena
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: human rights, organized crime, environment
Link: https://www.periodistassincadenas.org/
Name: Plan V
Type: Investigative, local news
Areas of focus: power structures, freedom of press
Link: https://www.planv.com.ec/
El SALVADOR
Name: El Faro
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: organized crime, corruption, migration, culture
Link: https://www.elfaro.net/
Name: Factum
Type: local news with investigative elements
Areas of focus: culture, organized crime, migration, corruption
Link: https://www.revistafactum.com/
Name: Gato Encerrado
Type: fact-checking, investigative
Areas of focus: environment, gender, justice, politics, fact-checking
Link: https://gatoencerrado.news/
GUATEMALA
Name: El Intercambio
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: migration, data journalism and visualization, human rights
Link: http://elintercamb.io/
Name: Guatemala Leaks
Type: investigative / online whistleblower platform
Areas of focus: leaks, whistleblowing, public interest, corruption, transparency, civil society
Link: https://guatemalaleaks.org/
Name: Plaza Pública
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: democracy, justice, human rights, collaborative journalism
Link: https://www.plazapublica.com.gt
Name: No-Ficción
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: non-fiction and new narratives reporting
Link: https://www.no-ficcion.com/
Name: Ojo con mi pisto
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: transparency, corruption, public funding
Link: https://www.ojoconmipisto.com
Name: Agencia Ocote
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: gender, podcasts, new narratives
Link: https://www.agenciaocote.com/
HONDURAS
Name: Contracorriente
Type: Investigative / Local reporting
Areas of focus: migration, corruption, gender, video
Link: https://contracorriente.red/
Name: Revistazo
Type: Investigative
Areas of focus: transparency, inequality, corruption
Link: https://revistazo.com/
MÉXICO
Name: Quinto Elemento Lab
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: investigative reporting, transparency, justice
Link: https://quintoelab.org/
Name: POPLab
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: new journalism tools, new narratives
Link: https://poplab.mx/
Name: Distintas Latitudes
Type: investigative / Pan American stories
Areas of focus: stories from different Latin American countries, interviews, youth journalism
Link: https://www.distintaslatitudes.net/
Name: Eme Equis
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: investigative reporting, corruption, inequality, impunity, environment
Link: https://www.m-x.com.mx/
Name: Animal Político
Type: investigative / local news
Areas of focus: corruption, inequality, gender violence, discrimination
Link: https://www.animalpolitico.com/
Name: Aristegui Noticias
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: investigative reporting, local news
Link: https://aristeguinoticias.com
Name: Mexicanos contra la corrupción y la Impunidad
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: corruption, investigative reporting, justice
Link: https://contralacorrupcion.mx/
Name: Periodistas de pie
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: freedom of expression, coordination of Mexican provinces
Link: https://periodistasdeapie.org.mx/
Name: Poder Latam
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: energy resources, banking and financial system, mining
Link: https://poderlatam.org/
Name: Pie de Página
Type: investigative / Local news
Areas of focus: human rights, democracy, social issues
Link: https://piedepagina.mx
Name: Colectivo 23 de marzo
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: investigating the murder of investigative journalist Miroslava Breach
Link: https://proyectomiroslava.org/
Name: Data Critica
Type: data journalism, investigative
Areas of focus: data-driven investigations, social issues
Link: https://datacritica.org/
NICARAGUA
Name: Confidencial
Type: Investigative / critical reporting / local news
Areas of focus: economy, anti-repression, anti-censorship
Link: https://confidencial.com.ni/
Name: Cinco
Type: promotion of freedom of press
Areas of focus: education, training
Link: https://cinco.org.ni/
Name: La Lupa
Type: Local News / Investigative / fact-checking
Areas of focus: human rights, gender issues, videos and podcasts
Link: https://lalupa.press/
PARAGUAY
Name: El Surtidor
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: public health in Latin America, fact-checking
Link: https://elsurti.com/
PERÚ
Name: Convoca
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: investigative pieces in different formats about corporate and political power
Link: https://convoca.pe/
Name: Ojo Público
Type: investigative / fact-checking
Areas of focus: investigative journalism and new narratives
Link: https://ojo-publico.com/
Name: IDL-Reporteros
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: political and corporate corruption, organized crime, human rights, environment
Link: https://www.idl-reporteros.pe/
Name: Salud con lupa
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: public health in Latin America, fact-checking
Link: https://saludconlupa.com
Name: Ipys Perú
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: investigative reporting, freedom of the press, transparency
Link: https://ipys.org/
Name: Wayka
Type: investigative / local news
Areas of focus: fight against corruption and discrimination, human rights, gender equality
Link: https://wayka.pe/
PUERTO RICO
Name: Centro de Periodismo Investigativo
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: public health in Latin America, fact-checking
Link: https://periodismoinvestigativo.com/
REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA
Name: Espaci Insular
Type: local news, investigative reports about femicides
Areas of focus: human rights, femicide, environment, migration
Link: http://www.espacinsular.org/
URUGUAY
Name: Sudestada
Type: investigative / data journalism
Areas of focus: transparency, data, public financial accounts, local news
Link: https://www.sudestada.com.uy/
VENEZUELA
Name: Efecto Cocuyo
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: local reporting, corruption, social issues, health, mining, energy resources
Link: https://efectococuyo.com/
Name: El Pitazo
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: isolated/marginalised areas, censorship, migration
Link: https://elpitazo.net/
Name: RunRun
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: local reporting, health, energy
Link: https://runrun.es/
Name: Ipys Venezuela
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: coordinating investigations, freedom of expression, censorship
Link: https://ipysvenezuela.org/
Name: Armando Info
Type: investigative
Areas of focus: corruption, energy resources, transparency, financial system
Link: https://armando.info/
About the author:
*Ricardo Ginés is a freelance journalist. He spent 11 years based in Istanbul, Turkey as a foreign correspondent for newspapers, magazines, radio and appearing in live interviews for TV broadcasts. Now he is immersed in investigative reporting projects.
This article is part of a series of resources and publications produced by Exposing the Invisible during a one-year project (September 2020 - August 2021) supported by the European Commission (DG CONNECT)
This text reflects the author’s view and the Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.