Two hundred and fifty media outlets across Latin America adopt the RSF Journalism Trust Initiative, strengthening the region’s press
Over the past year, 250 media outlets across Latin America have started the evaluation process to make sure their newsroom practices are aligned with the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI), the international journalism standard led by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) that promotes a more professional, transparent and trustworthy media landscape. Fourteen outlets have obtained the JTI certification, and seven spoke to RSF about their experience with the JTI and why the standard is crucial for modern journalism.
“The Journalism Trust Initiative has helped media outlets reflect on their practices, identify areas for improvement, and develop innovative strategies in critical areas such as governance, independence, job security and accountability.
Across Latin America, 250 outlets are currently in the initial self-assessment phase of the JTI process, 80 have moved on to publishing their transparency reports assessing their internal practices, and 14 (three in Argentina, eight in Colombia, and three in Ecuador) have achieved certification through an external auditor. These outlets make up over 10 per cent of global JTI participation: 2,000 outlets worldwide have started the process, 600 have published transparency reports and 100 are JTI certified.
Strengthening the media’s integrity and independence
The JTI self-assessment process focuses on the outlet’s internal business practices that ensure editorial independence and transparency. “It involves verifying the existence of a clear editorial line, correction policies, automated content management, ownership transparency, and disclosure of revenue sources, among others,” explained Ana Tronfi, founder of the Argentine outlet ADNSUR and Executive Secretary of the Association of Argentine Journalistic Entities (ADEPA)’s Executive Council. “The goal is to ensure that outlets certified under JTI adhere to ethical, transparent, and responsible journalism standards.”
Janet Hinostroza, founder of the Ecuadorian digital outlet Visionarias, noted: “As a key achievement, we implemented stricter protocols for source verification and created a clear mechanism for the public to report inaccuracies via WhatsApp or email. We also published our editorial guidelines to make them accessible to our entire audience.”
Tatiana Velásquez Archibold, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Colombia’s La Contratopedia Caribe, a media outlet specializing in tracking regional public funds, said the process “allowed us to fully disclose the origin of our funding and clearly define which types of support we accept and which we reject, in order to protect our editorial independence.”
For ElCronista.co, the process reaffirmed its core values. “From the beginning, we understood that JTI certification was not just a formality but an opportunity to strengthen our principles and improve our journalistic practices,” said Oscar Viña Pardo, co-founder of the Colombian outlet.
Mounting challenges for independent media in Latin America
“This recognition is especially important at a time when the world urgently needs strong, principled media to conduct high-quality journalism in the face of threats to democracy, human rights, and particularly freedom of expression,” said Fidel Cano, director of El Espectador, during a JTI certification ceremony held on Colombia’s National Journalist Day. “This is the commitment El Espectador has upheld for the past 137 years.”
Independent digital-native outlets launched in recent years grapple with major financial and sustainability challenges. “Despite major efforts to build diversified revenue models, most outlets still rely heavily on international grants and donor funding,” said Laila Abu Shihab Vergara, co-founder and project director at the Colombian investigative outlet Vorágine. “There is still a lack of donation culture among audiences and a reluctance to pay for quality journalism, making it difficult for reader contributions to become a reliable source of income.”
Moreover, the JTI’s ultimate goal of fostering more ethical, quality journalism is increasingly relevant in today’s digital landscape. “As digital consumption consolidates, algorithms tend to amplify extremes — sensationalism, rumors, hate, and falsehoods. Opinions often take precedence over facts. Tech giants set the rules with little accountability and ever-changing, opaque policies,” said Federico Aringoli, editor-in-chief of Argentina’s Río Negro newspaper. “In this distorted and constantly evolving environment, journalism is at a disadvantage — losing credibility, reach, and revenue. Reversing this trend is an urgent imperative.”
