U.S. Embassy San Jose Public Diplomacy Section Grant: Empowering Costa Rican Journalists to Combat Malign Influence

Investigative Journalism Workshop: Offer 20 hours of training through, iterative workshops for business and economy reporters in Costa Rica. The workshop will consist of five to 10 sessions over a period of between one to three months at a time that can accommodate participants’ work schedules. Sessions can be a combination of online/virtual and in-person, with at least 10 hours taking place in-person. It will cover research techniques, data analysis, and reporting on non-transparent and corrupt business practices. Additionally, journalists will learn about predatory infrastructure projects and lending practices, including common tactics and the implications on host countries such as debt traps, compromised cybersecurity, and environmental degradation.

Pitching and Publication of Articles: Facilitate the pitching and publication of articles developed during the workshop. Encourage participants to develop compelling stories on issues related to non-transparent and corrupt business practices. Establish an online repository for participants to store and share their collaborative reported content, in consultation with participants’ employers. Provide assistance to participants in pitching freelance pieces to relevant media outlets as appropriate, ensuring wider dissemination of their work and amplifying its impact.

Risk Assessment and Security Protocols: Offer guidance on risk assessment and security protocols specific to reporting on corrupt and non-transparent business practices. Journalists should be trained to assess potential risks to their safety and security, including threats from government authorities, corporate entities, or criminal organizations, and take appropriate measures to mitigate these risks.

Investigative Journalism Workshop: Offer 20 hours of training through, iterative workshops for business and economy reporters in Costa Rica. The workshop will consist of five to 10 sessions over a period of between one to three months at a time that can accommodate participants’ work schedules. Sessions can be a combination of online/virtual and in-person, with at least 10 hours taking place in-person. It will cover research techniques, data analysis, and reporting on non-transparent and corrupt business practices. Additionally, journalists will learn about predatory infrastructure projects and lending practices, including common tactics and the implications on host countries such as debt traps, compromised cybersecurity, and environmental degradation.

Pitching and Publication of Articles: Facilitate the pitching and publication of articles developed during the workshop. Encourage participants to develop compelling stories on issues related to non-transparent and corrupt business practices. Establish an online repository for participants to store and share their collaborative reported content, in consultation with participants’ employers. Provide assistance to participants in pitching freelance pieces to relevant media outlets as appropriate, ensuring wider dissemination of their work and amplifying its impact.

Risk Assessment and Security Protocols: Offer guidance on risk assessment and security protocols specific to reporting on corrupt and non-transparent business practices. Journalists should be trained to assess potential risks to their safety and security, including threats from government authorities, corporate entities, or criminal organizations, and take appropriate measures to mitigate these risks.