Investigative Initiatives in the Americas – Meet the “New Digitals”

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)

European Commission

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.


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