When we look back on 2024—and on the past four years of work to contribute to a more proactive conversation about the problems we face—what stands out the most to us is the names and faces of the journalists we’ve worked with.
Amidst distrust of the press, rampant media closures, and, of course, the impact of artificial intelligence on the industry, the potential impact of individual journalists can be enormous. We believe this is especially true when it comes to journalists who are committed to serving rural and other underrepresented communities. They are often working multiple jobs, juggling several roles, and doing their best to provide quality information to audiences that put their trust in them (often much more than they trust in larger or national media).
We believe that every time one of these journalists gets a little extra support, time, and funding, the potential ripple effect on our democracies is profound.
This year alone, the reporting we conducted and supported on recycling and waste management, male mental health, and solutions across Central America brought us into contact with Jackeline, Esteban, Diana, Wendy, Gilberto, Michelle, Esteban, Elena, Tomás, Victor Manuel. In previous years, we worked with rural journalists covering their hometowns’ responses to climate emergencies like Esteban, Alfie, Karina, and Katherine; or misinformation, like Marcela; or mental health, like Helen; and many more.
In collaborating with them, we have become firm believers that if our democracies are going to survive the challenges we face—and even, or especially, when a democracy falls—the hands-on work of journalists like these to serve their communities, question what’s possible, and bridge gaps, is absolutely essential.
That’s why, with the help of our Annual Members and organizational funders, we are building on our experience to offer even more Reporting Fellowships in 2025.
In 2025, we will:
- Provide even more talented journalists with funding, training, and coaching so that they can tell the whole story: the problems that are facing their communities, but also what’s working to address those problems.
- Develop thematic cohorts of Fellowship Journalists focused on specific topics (more on that in the coming days).
- Find new ways to help our Fellows engage with each other, and each others’ communities, to discuss good ideas across the miles—including our dream of a regional in-person gathering here in Costa Rica in mid-2025 (fingers crossed and stay tuned!).
- Take our Fellows and their work into classrooms through journalism-based teaching materials, educator support, and our Young Voices initiative.
- Design new ways for our readers and Members to meet these inspiring journalists and the community leaders from their stories.
Want to be a part of this? Please join us with an annual membership of “$56 for 506” for the year, or a donation of any size.
And if you’re part of an organization that cares about anything on this list, you can play a crucial role in our growth. Not only can you sponsor an edition exploring a topic that matters to you, but you can also hire our services: we fund part of our work by offering communications coaching, services, and trainings to outstanding nonprofits, companies, and community organizations.
