In recent years, a worrying trend has been observed in Latin America: increasing violence and persecution against journalists who want to inform the public about relevant issues. This situation poses major challenges to press freedom in the region and endangers the fundamental right to information.
Threats, kidnappings and murders of journalists are commonplace, particularly in regions where organized crime and government corruption are deeply rooted. One of the countries where violence against journalists has increased alarmingly is Mexico. Reporters Without Borders has ranked it as one of the most dangerous places in the world to practice journalism; Venezuela is another example of a country where the persecution of communicators is an ongoing problem. The situation is no different in Nicaragua under the leadership of Daniel Ortega and in Cuba there are explicit censorships on professional practice.
Due to this Latin American scenario of journalistic practice, since 2017 the Espacio Público study center has been offering journalists from Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua the opportunity to develop training workshops for investigative journalism in complex political scenarios. “Journalists who took part in previous versions were very satisfied with the work done. Not only will they receive specific tools for investigative journalism (tools that, according to the majority of Cuban universities, they do not receive), but they will also be able to talk to communicators who have also been persecuted, censored and harassed, and learn about the realities in other countries of the World inform region, create, among other things, networks and trusting relationships with like-minded people,” explains Nieves Alcaíno, project coordinator and researcher at Espacio Público.
Before the pandemic, the expert said, young journalists were able to travel without complications and visited Chile to take part in this program of face-to-face workshops. “Here they knew journalists who had to practice their profession in politically complex contexts. They also exchanged ideas with other professionals of similar age who, like them, were committed to investigative journalism. In addition, they knew independent media such as Ciper and toured the city, visiting universities and places such as the Museum of Memory and Human Rights. For them, it was a valuable experience that we tried to replicate as best as possible in the virtual training,” says Alcaíno.
Municipal Maternity Hospital, Havana. Adriana Fonte
The workshops conducted by the communicators cover different areas of investigative journalism, such as correct working methods, reporting in complex political contexts, use and protection of information sources and digital journalism. In addition, they personalize the workshops in each version, incorporating topics that the participants, according to their experience, consider necessary for their work, such as the situation of the media in Cuba and the legal framework in which they are developed. In this sixth version, a workshop on media sustainability was held to enable small media outlets to retain and sustain their audiences.
Chilean journalists who have held workshops as part of this program include: Mónica González, María Olivia Mönckeberg, Patricio Fernández, Leslie Ayala, Mauricio Weibel, Alejandra Matus, Patricia Politzer and Fernando Paulsen. Each version has given rise to interesting journalistic projects that can be viewed on the Espacio Público page.
New version
This year the sixth version of the program will take place, with the participation of eight Cuban journalists who have developed their workshops online and whose topics have to do with the mass exodus of Cubans and the crisis of the health system.
“In most cases, the topic suggestion comes from the participants themselves, who accept recommendations from their mentors, who decide on the viability of the topic, the possibility of finding sources and carrying out the research within the agreed time.” “The participants and their mentor suggest the Conduct an investigation and the Espacio Público team accepts or makes recommendations and ensures that the main issue is human rights impacts or a problem related to democracy and corruption,” he says. the program coordinator.
Bust of José Martí in front of the Camilo Cienfuegos International Clinic in Havana. Adriana Fonte
According to Alcaíno, the question will depend on their experience, the things they experience, their knowledge and what is currently happening in Cuba. There are problems that span time, such as the lack of opportunity, the lack of civil liberties, the health crisis, corruption and inflation. However, the situation in Cuba is changing rapidly and is also influenced by events in other parts of the world.
“In this version, the issue of health was addressed through the oxygen crisis in the most difficult weeks of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the current mass exodus and the different migration routes.” A few years ago, emigrants were left alone outside their country. For many it is now the other way around: so many people are going out that they are gradually being left alone,” says Alcaíno.
Although in this new version Cuban communicators have been brought in, the coordinator maintains that the program will be expanded to other countries, as far as possible, in order to strengthen democracy at the regional level. “Especially when you consider how risky pursuing journalism is in this part of the world. “In addition, we recognized how valuable this exchange between journalists is for this purpose,” he concludes.
To read the Investigative Journalism in Cuba: New Voices, New Stories 2023 report, visit Espacio Público.