Miami (18 February 2026) – The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) and the Latin American Council for Accreditation of Education in Journalism and Communication (CLAEP) officially announce the list of scholarship recipients selected for the fourth edition of the IAPA-CLAEP Diploma Course in Journalism 2026, after receiving more than 600 applications from numerous countries in the Americas.
The high level of interest and the outstanding quality of the applicants' profiles motivated both organisations to increase the initial number of places from 70 to 80 scholarships, in a decision that reaffirms their joint commitment to strengthening professional journalism skills in the region. Of the total number of scholarships awarded, 20% went to members of the Latin American Network of Journalists in Exile (RELPEX), as part of institutional support for journalists who work in contexts of displacement, persecution or vulnerability. See the list of scholarship recipients here.
‘The IAPA-CLAEP Diploma Course has established itself as one of the most important training opportunities for journalism in the region. The overwhelming response to this call for applications confirms the need to continue investing in quality training, especially in key areas such as innovation, sustainability and artificial intelligence,’ said Gilberto Urdaneta, president of the IAPA Scholarship Committee.
For his part, CLAEP President Norberto Frigerio stressed that ‘academic excellence and continuous updating are fundamental pillars for training journalists capable of responding to current challenges with ethical judgement, critical thinking and a vocation for public service,’ said Frigerio, Director of Institutional Relations at La Nación newspaper in Argentina.
The IAPA-CLAEP 2026 Diploma is a regional academic programme aimed at strengthening the skills of journalists and communication professionals in the face of the challenges posed by innovation, media sustainability and the incorporation of artificial intelligence in the information industry. The programme will be coordinated by the University of La Sabana (Colombia) and the Peruvian University of Applied Sciences (Peru). The professors responsible for academic management are Maximiliano Denaro (University of La Sabana) and María José Ampuero (Peruvian University of Applied Sciences).
An academic programme for the future of journalism
The curriculum is structured into two complementary modules. The first addresses innovation, business models and media sustainability, with an emphasis on new dynamics of value creation, journalistic entrepreneurship and strategies to strengthen the viability of news organisations. The second module analyses the impact of artificial intelligence on media strategy and management, content production, audience relations and editorial and business decision-making.
The diploma course will have a total duration of 80 academic hours, will be taught in a synchronous virtual format and will run for 10 weeks, starting on 28 February and ending on 16 May 2026.
The programme is aimed at journalists, editors, media executives, communicators, university lecturers, media project managers, and professionals interested in innovation, sustainability, and the future of journalism.
The IAPA is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the defence and promotion of press freedom and freedom of expression in the Americas. It is made up of more than 1,300 media outlets in the Western Hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.