Efforts by CIPE to assist journalists in the fight against corruption continue to expand. In Latin America, PFC (Periodistas Frente a la Corrupción, or "Journalists Against Corruption") is becoming an increasingly valuable resource.
As reported in the November / December 2000 issue of Overseas Report, PFC was designed and launched last fall to target corruption through the media and to ensure that investigative journalists in Latin America get the support they need from national and international advocates of free speech. PFC's initial efforts received considerable publicity when the organization helped to rally support for persecuted journalists and contributed to the release of Bolivian journalist Lupe Andrade and Mexican journalist Antonio Pinedo.
In recent months, PFC has been lauded by a wide range of journalists for providing badly needed contacts, information, and investigative help, which has resulted in improved investigations. They have also received special commendations for providing a support community for those who investigate or report on corruption in Latin America.
PFC has also been sought out by the Trust of the Americas, the World Bank, and others looking to develop training programs to support journalists. Most recently, "Move Your World," a Dutch non-profit organization working to identify young anti-corruption advocates to attend an international conference in May, engaged PFC as its recruiting arm in Latin America. PFC is also helping to lay groundwork for a study on corruption in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
PFC is off to an excellent start. To accommodate expansion and growth in 2001, PFC plans to:
PFC plans to enlist the support of such groups with a view to expanding training programs that will lead to more extensive networks of investigative and "watchdog" journalists in the Americas.