Journalists from Latin America and Spain gathered last week at the seventh Migration Journalism Congress in Mérida, Spain, to share and discuss best practices for reporting on migration. This annual event featured panels and discussions where journalists exchanged ideas on impactful approaches, such as collaborative reporting, feminist perspectives, and the importance of newsroom diversity.
Mexican journalist Rocío Gallegos, director of La Verdad in Ciudad Juárez, highlighted how collaborative efforts significantly improve migration coverage. She recounted how La Verdad’s partnership with El Paso Matters in Texas and the Netherlands-based Lighthouse Reports helped them produce an in-depth forensic investigation on a tragic fire in Ciudad Juárez that claimed the lives of 40 migrants. Through shared resources and expertise, their project, “We’re Not Letting Them In… What Happened the Night of the Fire at the Migrant Facility in Ciudad Juárez?” was able to uncover critical information that refuted official narratives and demonstrated that the tragedy could have been prevented. Gallegos emphasized the freedom of working with non-media organizations, which allowed her team more creative and investigative control.
Angela Cantador, a journalist from El CLIP (Latin American Center for Investigative Journalism), echoed the value of local expertise in transnational stories. She and Spanish journalist Jesús Escudero from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists discussed their project “Trucks, Traps for Migrants,” a transnational investigation that examined human trafficking conditions from Central America to the U.S. With the help of local media outlets in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, they were able to gather voices and experiences that would otherwise remain unheard, shedding light on the conditions migrants endure in dangerous truck transport across borders.
Prominent journalist Marcela Turati underscored the importance of long-term collaborations, noting how her collective Másde72, which focuses on migrant disappearances, provides support and safety for journalists covering these high-risk stories. In forming alliances, Turati and her colleagues are better able to investigate complex cases of missing migrants, often needing years of dedication and resources to bring each story to light.
Incorporating a feminist perspective into migration reporting emerged as another significant approach discussed at the congress. Spanish journalist María de los Ángeles Fernández, head of Pikara Magazine, explained that migration often has specific gender-based factors, such as forced marriages and domestic violence, which drive women to migrate. Argentine journalist Luciana Peker emphasized the need for an intersectional feminist approach, especially as right-wing governments worldwide take increasingly hostile stances toward both migrants and women’s rights. Peker urged audiences to support female migrant journalists and feminist perspectives to raise awareness of these intertwined issues.
The call for newsroom diversity was also strong, with speakers like Amarela Varela from the Autonomous University of Mexico City advocating for editorial decision-making that reflects various population groups. This, she argued, is essential for creating coverage that truly represents the diverse stories and voices within migration narratives. Nacho Calle, from Diario Público, agreed, stating that diversity training within newsrooms ensures a more inclusive perspective in news reporting.
PorCausa, a Spanish nonprofit focused on migration, shared its “circular narrative” methodology aimed at changing public perceptions around migration. PorCausa’s executive director, Lucila Rodríguez-Alarcón, described how their approach of repeated research, deconstruction, and narrative framing has proven effective in countering anti-migrant narratives, especially as far-right rhetoric gains traction. They plan to extend this methodology to Latin America, particularly Chile, where migration is rapidly increasing and anti-immigrant sentiment is spreading.
Rodríguez-Alarcón emphasized the power of journalistic networks across Ibero-America, asserting that such collaboration is essential to preserve quality information and counteract negative rhetoric. PorCausa intends to publish a new report on Chile in April 2025, further expanding their network’s influence.
The Migration Journalism Congress showed how collaboration, inclusion, and a broad perspective can enhance migration reporting, providing audiences with a fuller understanding of the complex issues migrants face. Through diverse approaches and teamwork, these journalists aim to shape a more humane and accurate narrative on migration.