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DW
24-07-2025
- Business
- DW
AI and journalism in Latin America: Meet the innovators
AI is transforming journalism in Latin America. News outlets are navigating a complex landscape where AI serves both as a tool for optimization and as an unprecedented ethical and professional challenge. Across the continent, where many newsrooms operate under structural budget constraints, AI represents a tangible opportunity to improve operational efficiency. From automated reporting to algorithm-driven news distribution, pioneering journalists at outlets like La Silla Vacía (Colombia), Chequeado (Argentina), Núcleo (Brazil), and Verificado (Mexico) have been experimenting with these tools, paving the way for colleagues throughout the region. While integrating this technology, each team has faced critical ethical dilemmas: How can we ensure AI doesn't reinforce pre-existing biases in news coverage? In what ways can newsrooms make sure generative technologies enhance — rather than replace — journalistic work? And what new skills must journalists develop to work with AI without becoming overly dependent on it? Integrating AI requires a cultural shift within news organizations A key consideration in this new landscape is training newsroom teams in the use of artificial intelligence tools. Integrating this technology is not just about adoption — it also requires a cultural shift within news organizations. Various teams across Latin America have invested in understanding how algorithms work, what implications they have on their editorial processes, and how they can be used in their work without compromising professional integrity. Regulation and transparency in the use of AI have also become central pillars in the technological strategies of many of these newsrooms. A new era in the newsroom: AI adoption demands new skills Image: Fernando Llano/AP Photo/picture alliance This article highlights the journalists, developers, and experts leading AI integration in Latin American journalism. These diverse teams — of both women and men — are designing strategies and news products tailored to the unique dynamics of the region's media ecosystem, while also addressing global challenges such as content automation, fact-checking, and workflow optimization. By embracing innovation through a local lens and responding to their specific contexts, these professionals are reshaping journalism across the continent. The data challenge: Quality and access Artificial intelligence in journalism can only be as effective as the data that powers it. However, in Latin America, access to reliable information remains a significant hurdle. The fragmentation and lack of digitization of public data, the absence of open databases, and the concentration of information in the hands of major tech corporations complicate the development of AI-driven tools. La Nación's data team uses AI and data journalism to promote transparency in Argentina where access to public information is often limited Image: La Nación Data One of the main challenges is the heterogeneity of available data. In many countries across the region, government information is either not digitized or riddled with inconsistencies, making it difficult to incorporate into automated systems. To address this issue, La Nación Data , the data journalism team at La Nación (Argentina), has spent years working to systematize public information. Under the leadership of Momi Peralta Ramos (LN Data's team leader) and Florencia Coehlo, the unit has developed tools to structure and access government data, enabling its use in journalistic investigations. AI tools can help to detect irregularities in elections Image: Tomas Cuesta/REUTERS During Argentina's 2023 primary elections, this team took innovation a step further. Alongside Gabriela Bouret, Ricardo Brom and Martín Pascua, they implemented artificial intelligence and computer vision to analyze voting tally sheets (telegramas). Using specially designed algorithms, they were able to examine the documents with remarkable precision, identifying potential errors in their preparation. This approach enabled the detection of irregularities in the results, sped up data analysis, and — thanks to the support of volunteers — allowed the team to process more than 100,000 tally sheets in record time, strengthening oversight of the vote count. But lack of access to public data isn't the only issue. Major tech corporations hold massive volumes of user information, creating risks around data concentration and inequitable access. In response, several investigative journalism initiatives have emerged to tackle the problem from within the newsroom. In Peru, Nelly Luna Amancio, director of Ojo Público , has led the development of Funes, a tool designed to detect corruption patterns in government contracts. Nelly Luna Amancio has earned global recognition for her award-winning investigations and contributions to data journalism Image: Leslie Searles Under her leadership, a team of developers and journalists created this AI-based platform to analyze large datasets and flag irregularities in public procurement. The goal is clear: To strengthen transparency and improve oversight of public spending in a region where access to information is often limited. Funes has become a key asset for investigative journalism in Latin America. Along the same lines, Rigoberto Carvajal, a Costa Rican systems engineer and data journalism specialist, has been a central figure in applying technology to enhance investigative reporting. His work at the International Center for Investigative Journalism (ICIJ) has enabled hundreds of journalists to analyze massive amounts of data, helping to uncover global corruption networks and tax evasion schemes. Carvajal was part of the Panama Papers investigation, where text mining and machine learning techniques were used to classify documents and accelerate the identification of patterns linking people, companies, and financial flows. His contribution to the project was recognized in 2017 with a Pulitzer Prize — one of the most prestigious awards in journalism. Today, he leads innovations in AI-driven journalism at the Centro Latinoamericano de Investigación Periodística (CLIP ). There, he has spearheaded the development of Nina, a web-based application that uses artificial intelligence to process large volumes of unstructured data. The tool allows journalists to search through documents using a chat-style interface, tailored to the specific datasets of each investigation. Rigoberto Carvajal applied his data and software skills to build investigative tools that helped uncover global financial networks Image: ICIJ Thanks to his expertise in artificial intelligence and data analysis, Carvajal has played a key role in high-impact investigations, enabling journalists to uncover hidden connections within economic and political power structures. His work has strengthened transparency and accountability, showcasing the transformative potential of technology in Latin American investigative journalism. The structural shift in newsrooms The implementation of artificial intelligence in media organizations has created the need to bring new professional profiles into newsrooms, but its impact goes far beyond staffing. AI not only reshapes newsroom teams — it also drives narrative innovation, the development of digital products, and the creation of new strategies for content production and distribution. Its integration has transformed the way journalists interact with information, leading to a shift in the way newsrooms are structured. A new era of storytelling, made possible with the help of artificial intelligence Image: Fabio Teixeira/Anadolu Agency/dpa/picture alliance In this new context, training journalists in the use of AI tools and data analysis has become one of the main challenges. Many newsrooms have started incorporating education in generative technologies and machine learning into their internal development programs. This allows journalists not only to understand how the algorithms that determine news visibility work, but also to use those same algorithms to enhance their reporting. At La Silla Vacía (Colombia), Karen De la Hoz, editorial lead and prompt engineer, spearheaded the implementation of artificial intelligence in the "Quién es Quién" section, a directory of Colombian political figures. The tool enables the automated updating of more than 1,300 political profiles, solving a key challenge for the newsroom, which previously maintained this database manually. To achieve this, the team partnered with Orza and the Universidad de los Andes, training a language model based on their own reporting. Thanks to this implementation, the AI system can identify changes in public information and generate real-time updates, allowing journalists to focus on verification and the production of higher-value content. AI tools can help tailor important information for audiences in real time — for example, updates on financial markets Image: Natacha Pisarenko/AP Photo/picture alliance At Infobae (Argentina), Daniel Hadad, founder and president, and Opy Morales, editorial director for AI initiatives, led the development of Scribnews — an internal tool that enables the real-time automated generation of news articles. Its implementation has been key for covering developing events such as national elections, financial market movements, and sports results, where publishing speed is essential. However, its impact goes beyond automation, opening up new possibilities in journalistic content production. AI has become a key assistant for journalists, and its integration has required the recruitment of new profiles with expertise in generative technologies, which have been incorporated into different areas within Infobae. Beyond improving content production, artificial intelligence has also opened new opportunities in personalizing the user experience. At Clarín (Argentina), Julián Gallo, digital strategist and former innovation editor at the outlet, led the development of UalterIA, an AI-powered reading assistant that allows users to access news in multiple formats, including summaries, timelines, and frequently asked questions. This tool was designed to enhance the reading experience by enabling users to consume information according to their specific needs and interests. Its implementation not only transformed how readers engage with content but also gave journalists new options for presenting information, ensuring that it is understandable both to human audiences and to the AI models that process it. AI enables personalized user experiences Image: Didem Mente/Anadolu/dpa/picture alliance Algorithms and the mediation of information Among the greatest challenges media organizations face in this new landscape is, without a doubt, the role algorithms play in mediating information. Digital platforms such as Facebook, Google, and TikTok have shaped how news is consumed through recommendation systems that prioritize certain content over others. What we read, watch, and listen to on these platforms is not entirely the result of free choice, but rather of a series of invisible calculations that determine what content is shown to us based on our previous interactions. At Verificado, Daniela Mendoza collaborates with her team to combat disinformation in Mexico Image: Verificado The ubiquity of algorithms — their ability to operate everywhere at once — makes their impact largely imperceptible. We don't see them, but they're always present, influencing what topics trend, which media outlets gain reach, and how the narratives of our daily reality are constructed. In Mexico, Daniela Mendoza Luna, director of Verificado , has seen firsthand how algorithms can amplify misinformation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her team used Google PinPoint to transcribe and analyze videos from YouTubers spreading vaccine misinformation. Through this strategy, they were able to map how falsehoods spread and design more effective digital responses to counter them. This phenomenon raises a critical question: We often try to understand what algorithms mean for humans, but what do humans mean to algorithms? To artificial intelligence systems, we are essentially a sequence of clicks and behavioral patterns. Their main objective — because that is how they are programmed — is to keep us on their platforms for as long as possible. And this becomes problematic because they don't prioritize truth, they prioritize our attention. This process reinforces preexisting beliefs, amplifies confirmation bias, and fuels dynamics of polarization. As a result, we become trapped in information bubbles that limit our perspective and increasingly shape our worldview in extreme ways. In Mexico, journalists used AI tools to counter widespread COVID-19 vaccine misinformation in order to boost vaccination efforts Image: Manuel Velasquez/AA/picture alliance In Argentina, the team at Chequeado has been actively working to understand and respond to this challenge. Under the leadership of Pablo Fernández (2016–2023) and now with Franco Piccato as executive director, Dolores Pujol (director of innovation), Matías Di Santi (media director), and Guadalupe López (head of education) have developed an artificial intelligence lab where they experiment with generative technologies applied to journalism. They have also launched an educational program focused on strengthening digital literacy and deepening understanding of how AI impacts the circulation of information. The influence of algorithms is also evident in the way media outlets design their distribution strategies. The pursuit of web traffic often leads to prioritizing more eye-catching or viral content at the expense of depth and journalistic quality. In this context, the lack of transparency surrounding how distribution algorithms work places journalists and editors in a position of dependence on major tech corporations. To reduce this dependency, Chequeado has implemented tools like Chequeabot since 2016 — a system based on artificial intelligence that streamlines the fact-checking process by enabling more efficient detection of false information. A shift toward viral content often comes at the cost of depth and journalistic integrity Image: Mauro Pimentel/empics/PA Wire/dpa/picture alliance Meanwhile, several media outlets have begun exploring alternative distribution models. Some newsrooms have started experimenting with segmented newsletters and using WhatsApp and Telegram to maintain direct communication with their audiences without relying on third-party platforms. These strategies aim not only to diversify distribution channels but also to regain control over how information is shared in an ecosystem dominated by the logic of social platforms and algorithms. Ethics and transparency in the use of AI The adoption of generative tools in journalism brings with it valid concerns around transparency, bias, and editorial responsibility. Integrating AI into newsrooms is not free of ethical dilemmas and raises new questions for journalists who use these tools on a daily basis: Who is accountable when an algorithm makes a mistake? How can we prevent artificial intelligence from reinforcing prejudices instead of correcting them? To what extent can AI automate tasks without compromising the essence of journalism? As these technologies become part of newsroom workflows, the key is not only to adopt them, but to ensure their use aligns with the core principles of the profession. In Colombia, Claudia Báez, co-founder and general director of Cuestión Pública , has tackled these challenges with a central question: How can AI strengthen investigative journalism by enhancing its rigor and transparency? The answer was Proyecto Odín, a tool designed to contextualize political and governmental information in real time. Her team used a technique known as Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), which allows AI to retrieve information from journalistic databases and generate highly contextualized content. With more than 4,300 records from past investigations, Odín not only speeds up access to complex data but does so without compromising accuracy or human verification — both key aspects of data journalism. While automation has facilitated the analysis of information and the generation of reports, it has also increased risks related to opacity and the misuse of data. This is where ethics and transparency become essential. In Brazil, Sérgio Spagnuolo, founder of Núcleo , has promoted the development of open-source tools aimed at improving audience engagement without sacrificing transparency. Núcleo was the first media outlet in Brazil to publish specific guidelines on the use of AI in the newsroom, setting clear standards on when and how to apply these technologies in the production of news content. The team at Núcleo leads by example: AI in journalism must remain transparent and accessible. Open-source development ensures editorial oversight and accountability Image: Privat Among their recent developments is Nuclito, a chatbot that allows users to interact with Núcleo's content in an accessible way, and Nuclito Resume, an open-source AI tool that summarizes reports into three key points to facilitate faster reading. By making the code for this tool publicly available, Spagnuolo and his team have reinforced a fundamental principle: AI in journalism must be auditable and accessible, preventing it from becoming a black box with no editorial oversight. Their commitment to open-source development not only enables other media outlets to integrate and adapt the technology but also ensures its implementation aligns with values of transparency and accountability. The potential of artificial intelligence in journalism goes beyond content generation and operational efficiency — it also plays a key role in connecting media with their audiences. If implemented without proper safeguards, the technology can reinforce existing biases and subtly distort information narratives. That's why regulating the use of AI in journalism remains a work in progress. The creation of ethical guidelines and usage standards requires close collaboration between journalists and experts to balance innovation with responsibility. AI in journalism isn't just about efficiency. It's also about connecting more deeply with audiences. Image: Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/dpapicture alliance From the present, looking ahead Journalism in Latin America is at a turning point. Artificial intelligence has found its place in newsrooms — not just as a tool for automating tasks, but as a catalyst for deep changes in how stories are investigated, told, and shared with audiences. Yet its impact is neither uniform nor inevitable. Behind every advance are pioneering individuals — journalists who have chosen not to stand on the sidelines of technological change, but to take the lead and shape it to meet the region's specific needs and challenges. Human and artificial intelligence: How much of each do Latin American newsrooms need? Image: Juancho Torres/Anadolu Agency/dpa/picture alliance These professionals are charting the course. From tools that hold power to account to systems that optimize news distribution, their work shows that artificial intelligence is not the end of journalism, but a means to strengthen it. Still, one essential question remains: Who will control this transformation? While global platforms continue to influence what we read and share, media outlets across Latin America have shown that AI can also be harnessed to build credibility, improve news coverage, and expand access to information. The challenge today is not just to integrate AI, but to do so with a clear vision. If media organizations want to avoid having their agenda dictated by technology, they must invest in training, develop transparency standards, and ensure that these tools are used to enhance journalism — not strip it of its core values. In Latin America, the future of journalism is not being written by algorithms, but by the pioneers who dare to experiment without losing sight of the mission to inform with rigor and responsibility. Álvaro Liuzzi Image: privat Álvaro Liuzzi is a digital media consultant, journalist, and lecturer specializing in media strategy and innovation from Argentina. He has worked with newsrooms and international organizations on projects related to digital products, new storytelling formats, and the adoption of emerging technologies. He is the author of PeriodismoIA, a reference guide on artificial intelligence in media, and has led AI integration processes in several media outlets.
Japan Today
05-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
Protests against surging mass tourism in Mexico City end in vandalism, harassment of tourists
Demonstrators hold posters that read in Spanish ¨Here we speak Spanish, Real Estate Regulation Now¨, during a protest against gentrification, as the increase in remote workers has risen prices and increased housing demand in neighborhoods like Condesa and Roma, in Mexico City, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) By MARTÍN SILVA REY and FABIOLA SÁNCHEZ A protest by hundreds against gentrification and mass tourism that began peacefully Friday in Mexico City neighborhoods popular with tourists turned violent when a small number of people began smashing storefronts and harassing foreigners. Masked protesters smashed through the windows and looted high-end businesses in the touristic areas of Condesa and Roma, and screamed at tourists in the area. Graffiti on glass shattered glass being smashed through with rocks read: 'get out of Mexico.' Protesters held signs reading 'gringos, stop stealing our home' and demanding local legislation to better regulate tourism levels and stricter housing laws. Marchers then continued on to protest outside the U.S. Embassy and chanted inside the city's metro system. Police reinforcements gathered outside the Embassy building as police sirens rung out in the city center Friday evening. It marked a violent end to a more peaceful march throughout the day calling out against masses of mostly American tourists who have flooded into Mexico's capital in recent years. Tension had been mounting in the city since U.S. 'digital nomads' flocked to Mexico City in 2020, many to escape coronavirus lockdowns in the U.S. or to take advantage of cheaper rent prices in the Latin American city. Since then, rents have soared and locals have increasingly gotten pushed out of their neighborhoods, particularly areas like Condesa and Roma, lush areas packed with coffee shops and restaurants. Michelle Castro, a 19-year-old college student, was among the flocks of people protesting. She said that she's from the city's working class city center, and that she's watched slowly as apartment buildings have been turned into housing for tourists. 'Mexico City is going through a transformation," she said. "There are a lot of foreigners, namely Americans, coming to live here. Many say it's xenophobia, but it's not. It's just that so many foreigners come here, rents are skyrocketing because of Airbnb. Rents are so high that some people can't even pay anymore.' The Mexico City protest follows others in European cities like Barcelona, Madrid, Paris and Rome against mass tourism. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
South Wales Argus
19-06-2025
- Climate
- South Wales Argus
Erick makes landfall in western Mexico state as Category 3 storm
The hurricane's centre was located about 20 miles (30km) east of Punta Maldonado early on Thursday. Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 125mph (205kph) and it was moving northwest at 9mph (15kph), the hurricane centre said. Boats were anchored near Manzanillo beach to be removed from the water ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Erick in Acapulco (Fernando Llano/AP) The storm was downgraded slightly before making landfall, from a Category 4 to a Category 3. While slightly reduced in power, Erick is still considered a major hurricane as a Category 3, which can carry winds of up to 129mph (210 kph). Erick is expected to rapidly weaken over the mountains of Mexico, and the system is likely to dissipate late Thursday or early Friday, the hurricane centre said. The storm threatened to unleash destructive winds near where the eye crashes ashore, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge, forecasters said. Late on Wednesday, Erick's projected path crept south, closer to the resort city of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state, and centred on a sparsely populated stretch of coastline between the Oaxacan resort and Acapulco to the north-west. Boats were removed from the water to Manzanillo beach in Acapulco ahead of the storm's arrival (Fernando Llano/AP) President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a video message on Wednesday night that all activities in the region were suspended and she urged people to stay in their homes or move to shelters if they lived in low-lying areas. Waves were crashing onto the esplanade in Puerto Escondido by nightfall, swamping wooden fishing boats that had been pulled up for safety. The beach disappeared under pounding waves and the rising tide had already reached the interiors of some waterfront restaurants. Last-minute purchases ended at nightfall as shops closed and the streets emptied. The storm's course shift could be welcome relief for residents of storm-battered Acapulco. Workers in Acapulco boarded up a shop as they prepared for the arrival of Hurricane Erick (Fernando Llano/AP) The city of nearly one million was devastated in October 2023 by Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 hurricane that rapidly intensified and caught many unprepared. At least 52 people died in Otis and the storm severely damaged almost all of the resort's hotels. Forecasters said Erick was expected to lash Mexico's Pacific coast with heavy rain, strong winds and a fierce storm surge. Rains of up to 40cm could fall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lesser totals in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states, the centre's advisory said. The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain.
The Herald Scotland
19-06-2025
- Climate
- The Herald Scotland
Erick makes landfall in western Mexico state as Category 3 storm
Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 125mph (205kph) and it was moving northwest at 9mph (15kph), the hurricane centre said. Boats were anchored near Manzanillo beach to be removed from the water ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Erick in Acapulco (Fernando Llano/AP) The storm was downgraded slightly before making landfall, from a Category 4 to a Category 3. While slightly reduced in power, Erick is still considered a major hurricane as a Category 3, which can carry winds of up to 129mph (210 kph). Erick is expected to rapidly weaken over the mountains of Mexico, and the system is likely to dissipate late Thursday or early Friday, the hurricane centre said. The storm threatened to unleash destructive winds near where the eye crashes ashore, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge, forecasters said. Late on Wednesday, Erick's projected path crept south, closer to the resort city of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state, and centred on a sparsely populated stretch of coastline between the Oaxacan resort and Acapulco to the north-west. Boats were removed from the water to Manzanillo beach in Acapulco ahead of the storm's arrival (Fernando Llano/AP) President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a video message on Wednesday night that all activities in the region were suspended and she urged people to stay in their homes or move to shelters if they lived in low-lying areas. Waves were crashing onto the esplanade in Puerto Escondido by nightfall, swamping wooden fishing boats that had been pulled up for safety. The beach disappeared under pounding waves and the rising tide had already reached the interiors of some waterfront restaurants. Last-minute purchases ended at nightfall as shops closed and the streets emptied. The storm's course shift could be welcome relief for residents of storm-battered Acapulco. Workers in Acapulco boarded up a shop as they prepared for the arrival of Hurricane Erick (Fernando Llano/AP) The city of nearly one million was devastated in October 2023 by Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 hurricane that rapidly intensified and caught many unprepared. At least 52 people died in Otis and the storm severely damaged almost all of the resort's hotels. Forecasters said Erick was expected to lash Mexico's Pacific coast with heavy rain, strong winds and a fierce storm surge. Rains of up to 40cm could fall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lesser totals in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states, the centre's advisory said. The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain.
Western Telegraph
19-06-2025
- Climate
- Western Telegraph
Erick makes landfall in western Mexico state as Category 3 storm
The hurricane's centre was located about 20 miles (30km) east of Punta Maldonado early on Thursday. Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 125mph (205kph) and it was moving northwest at 9mph (15kph), the hurricane centre said. Boats were anchored near Manzanillo beach to be removed from the water ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Erick in Acapulco (Fernando Llano/AP) The storm was downgraded slightly before making landfall, from a Category 4 to a Category 3. While slightly reduced in power, Erick is still considered a major hurricane as a Category 3, which can carry winds of up to 129mph (210 kph). Erick is expected to rapidly weaken over the mountains of Mexico, and the system is likely to dissipate late Thursday or early Friday, the hurricane centre said. The storm threatened to unleash destructive winds near where the eye crashes ashore, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge, forecasters said. Late on Wednesday, Erick's projected path crept south, closer to the resort city of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state, and centred on a sparsely populated stretch of coastline between the Oaxacan resort and Acapulco to the north-west. Boats were removed from the water to Manzanillo beach in Acapulco ahead of the storm's arrival (Fernando Llano/AP) President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a video message on Wednesday night that all activities in the region were suspended and she urged people to stay in their homes or move to shelters if they lived in low-lying areas. Waves were crashing onto the esplanade in Puerto Escondido by nightfall, swamping wooden fishing boats that had been pulled up for safety. The beach disappeared under pounding waves and the rising tide had already reached the interiors of some waterfront restaurants. Last-minute purchases ended at nightfall as shops closed and the streets emptied. The storm's course shift could be welcome relief for residents of storm-battered Acapulco. Workers in Acapulco boarded up a shop as they prepared for the arrival of Hurricane Erick (Fernando Llano/AP) The city of nearly one million was devastated in October 2023 by Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 hurricane that rapidly intensified and caught many unprepared. At least 52 people died in Otis and the storm severely damaged almost all of the resort's hotels. Forecasters said Erick was expected to lash Mexico's Pacific coast with heavy rain, strong winds and a fierce storm surge. Rains of up to 40cm could fall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lesser totals in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states, the centre's advisory said. The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain.
