Guide: Community and local journalism to protect the Amazon
"Community media and various local media are the last bastions of journalism that are directly linked to their regions. Good communication is possible if it's relevant to society, has an impact and aims to influence social and political issues," says Rodrigo Villarzú, director of DW Akademie’s Latin America and Caribbean department.
As a result, this practical guide offers lessons learned and methodologies developed between 2022 and 2025 in collaboration with the local partners Agenda Propia (Colombia), CORAPE (Ecuador) and Servindi (Peru). It offers a flexible roadmap for local and community media and civil society organizations to design communication strategies adapted to their regions and realities.
Journalism is a public good essential to democracy. The guide distinguishes between impact – the real and verifiable changes achieved in communities and territories – and advocacy, a set of actions aimed at influencing public policy and decision-making. The publication recognizes the diversity of approaches and emphasizes the importance of co-creation with communities and respecting local knowledge and intercultural communication.
The guide proposes eight steps that range from strategic planning and mapping of actors and risks to journalistic research, participatory dissemination and the evaluation of results. It includes practical tools for strengthening capacities and facilitating collaborative processes between journalists, community communicators, indigenous organizations and other key actors.
A core aspect is the Do No Harm approach that addresses the comprehensive safety of journalists, sources and communities within the context of high socio-environmental conflicts. It also promotes creative narratives, the responsible use of metrics, the free circulation of content and strategic alliances that extend reach while maintaining local relevance.
Through case studies in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, the publication shows that local and community journalism, when rooted in its region and connected to its audiences, can close information gaps, strengthen citizen participation and contribute to social and environmental transformations. Above all, the guide invites us to rethink journalism as a collective practice that is both useful and vital for protecting the Amazon and promoting better-informed, critical and articulate communities.