Miami (April 8, 2025) - The Inter American Press Association (IAPA), with the support of UNESCO, announces the launch of a groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing the capacity of media outlets in Central America to report on climate action and disasters risk management.
Running from April through December 2025, the program will leverage digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the quality, accuracy, and impact of journalistic coverage, while also supporting the development of robust disaster preparedness and response frameworks within media institutions.
Titled "Support for Media in Central America in Climate Action and Disaster Management,", the initiative will work with seven media outlets across El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala.
The goal is to equip these organizations with the tools, skills, and knowledge necessary for effective and resilient climate and disaster reporting. By fostering cross-border collaboration, the program also aims to strengthen regional disaster preparedness and information-sharing networks.
Participating media outlets include:
· El Diario de Hoy – El Salvador
· Mala Yerba – El Salvador
· El Heraldo – Honduras
· Radio Cadena Voces – Honduras
· Prensa Libre – Guatemala
· Guatevisión – Guatemala
· ARPAS – El Salvador
Program objectives:
· Provide digital tools and AI to enhance the quality of reporting
· Promote investigative and solutions journalism practices
· Support the creation and implementation of institutional disaster preparedness plans, based on UNESCO's Model Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan (DPRP) for Media Institutions
· Foster transboundary media collaborations around climate and disaster reporting
The program will feature a hybrid training model, combining weekly online sessions with a concluding in-person workshop in Guatemala City. Expert trainers from across the region will lead monthly modules on climate and disaster journalism, digital tools for reporting, investigative techniques, solutions journalism, and institutional newsroom preparedness. The initiative will conclude with a two-day workshop in Guatemala City in November 2025.
The IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.
