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Ayuda a que más periodistas en Centro América estén protegidos en coberturas de alto riesgo

PHOTOJOURNALIST & MEDIA EMERGENCY NET FUND

Journalists from Central America are risking their lives to document the advancement that Covid19 is among the worst hit regions of the hemishpere. This fund will provide direct assistance to photojournalists and media freelancers working in Central America who find themselves uniquely vulnerable in the face of the novel Coronavirus crisis.  

A significant segment of documentary photographers and photojournalists have worked in the region for decades, everyone has benefited and enjoyed the fruits of their labor, and yet, despite their years of contributions, their economic situation is deteriorating as they are facing and struggling with much hardship in this time of crisis. Most photojournalists do not have a basic safety net to survive.  Their only safety net is their immediate family members, solidarity from colleagues and friends, and community-based organizations such as the Latitudes Foundation.   

As a result, Latitudes Foundation a 501 ©3 organization is building the Photojournalist & Media Safety Net Fund specifically to help: 

-Women photojournalists and single mother photographers and multi-media journalists

-Photographers and photojournalists over 50 years old; 

-Photographers and visual multi-media journalists with disabilities and medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to the virus; 

-Photojournalists who fall ill with Coronavirus; and

-Visual multi-media staff, organizers, and volunteers who fall ill while educating and serving others.

How will funds be distributed?

We are building and managing this fund at the same time.  Initially, in order to move quickly and efficiently, donations will be made to Latitudes Foundation which will make cash distributions to member organizations that subscribe to a set of requirements for the fund. Assistance will be made available directly to individuals in need through organizations in Central America that are part of our network.  A Regional Committee will be established to ensure that the process is participatory, transparent and fair.  “Riesgo Cruzado” members must participate to become recipients of the fund. 

Principles

As we gather both resources and clear assessment of need, we will be diligent in the construction and execution of the fund, and we will subscribe to a set of principles that will guide us: 

We will distribute money and resources to those with immediate needs. 

We will distribute money and resources to those who are most excluded from government relief efforts. 

In addition, because we are living an unprecedented era, we will focus on those workers who are most marginalized, which includes freelance photojournalists, laid off women photographers, and media journalists facing threats and persecution. 

Expectations of Recipient Organizations

Recipient organizations in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua will contribute their efforts to the collective fund:

-Local distribution should be documented (photos, video, and media outlets) to assist in aggregate fundraising.  

-Recipient organizations should contribute their efforts to support fundraising campaigns.

-Recipient organizations should participate in the Regional Committee calls and meetings.

Expectations of Latitudes Foundation/ Riesgo Cruzado:

-All funds will be accounted for transparently within standard account practices for non-profit organizations. 

Cross Risk Campaign- “Riesgo Cruzado Campaign”.

Journalists from Central America are risking their lives to document the advancement that covid19 is the worst hit region in America. “Riesgo Cruzado” has trained a hundred journalists in the region in security tools to know the risks they face. That is why a campaign was launched for companies and institutions to help us buy or donate protective equipment to be able to objectively document one of the worst pandemics in history. Donate via PayPal f.latitudes@gmail.com