The original idea for Newstramp began during my time as a watchdog reporter in Texas. While covering freedom of information (FOI) issues and investigating malfeasance at Killeen City Hall, I attended the International Symposium on Online Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin. It was there, in 2012, that I met Carlos Chamorro, a Nicaraguan investigative journalist whose work and determination left a profound impression on me. Mr. Chamorro, a son of former Nicaraguan President Violeta Chamorro and the late Pedro Joaquín Chamorro—a celebrated journalist assassinated for his criticism of the Somoza dictatorship—is synonymous with the battle for press freedoms in Latin America.
During our conversation, Mr. Chamorro described the challenges of reporting under Daniel Ortega’s brutal regime, where no freedom of information laws exist, and the government remains opaque. His newsroom at Confidencial relies on non-governmental organizations and on-the-ground sources to expose corruption and hold power to account.
Carlos’s story sparked an idea, to tell the stories of journalists doing watchdog reporting in Latin America.
Newstramp has so far traveled and reported in Uruguay, Argentina, and Bolivia. I have had some amazing adventures and met some incredible journalists dedicated to exposing corruption and holding power to account, often against overwhelming odds. Since I started this blog several new FOI laws have been passed in Argentina and Uruguay. There is hope. The journey continues!
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“The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created.” – Texas Government Code, Open Government Ch. 522