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Episode 3 of Brave New Media features Jazmin Acuna, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Paraguay’s El Surtidor – more popularly known as El Surti. The online media start-up becoming well known for its investigations and its innovative ways of engaging with online audiences. She spoke to Â鶹ԼÅÄ Media Action about El Surti’s work, her hopes for the future and her fears for public interest journalism.

Which of your recent stories are you most proud of and why?

I am very happy with the results of our in-depth coverage of an unregulated proliferation of gas stations in the capital city of Paraguay, Asuncion. We have shown how this issue is putting at risk the health of the population, the safety of neighbourhoods and the quality of living in the city. One of the things we revealed is that Asuncion now has more gas stations than parks. Another thing we learned is that the city council approved the construction of gas stations in front of hospitals and schools, and some of those approvals violated the council’s own norms.

To begin with, I am proud of this work because it is another example of our editorial independence from the local powers that be. We do not respond to any of the market players that are behind the lobbying efforts that dismantled regulations in the fossil-fuel industry in Paraguay. For this reason, we can call everyone out without restrictions or censorship, and have the public interest as our only guidance.

Second, this work shows the importance of giving reporters the time and the resources to dig into stories as much as possible. For three years now we have had in-depth coverage of the climate crisis, and I am glad to say that, because several big media outlets have only recently appointed reporters for this topic. Our coverage is a project that has made our work more relevant, rigorous and more effective with the right impact. I encourage whoever is reading this to check it out.

Where do you hope to be in a year’s time? What do you need to get there?

In a year, I hope to be part of the best investigative team in Paraguay. I hope that, as much as El Surti is known regionally and worldwide for our approach to storytelling and our engagement strategies, we are also recognised for the value of our in-depth coverage. To get there, we need some adjustments in the way we work now. And we need time. But I am confident that we are on the right track.

What’s your greatest fear for the future of media in Paraguay?

I think that the American writer Ray Bradbury has depicted my greatest fear in his novel Fahrenheit 451. I am afraid of a future where people do not want to handle the truth and we as journalists are unable to do our jobs. No matter the reason - financial troubles, violence, government censorship - I hope to never live in a society that sees independent journalism as a nuisance or an enemy rather than a cornerstone of democracy and freedom. It is what is happening now in countries like El Salvador. I fear the sophistication of disinformation campaigns that attack journalists and the loss of public support that comes with them. But I fear most the possibility that people lose the capacity to tell lies from the truth and don't see the value of public interest media like El Surti.

If you had one piece of advice to another digital outlet hoping to engage better with its audiences, what would it be?

My main piece of advice would be to try to build a community. Anyone can have an audience nowadays, but it is much more valuable to have a community that supports your work. This involves trust. And in order to foster trust, you have to get offline and away from algorithmic conversations and establish meaningful and safe spaces for dialogue. Open your newsroom to your readers and make them part of the newsmaking process. Listen to their needs and take into account their recommendations. Establish rituals with them like monthly meetings and most important of all, commit to these promises.