FNPI's core project is the New Journalism Workshop, which is an itinerant programme that also includes training seminars. García Márquez's original idea was to conduct workshops in which leading journalists and editors (master teachers) from all over the world discuss the nuts and bolts of the craft with young reporters, in sessions that had a tone more like an extended conversation among friends than a formal university class.



Normally the workshops have up to fifteen participants from various countries and last an average of five days, during which the master teacher conducts field work and practical exercises among the participants to fine-tune their professional capabilities. The purpose is not to train people to be journalists, but to inspire and improve - through practice - those who already are.

The seminars are attended by groups of up to 50 journalists and experts for two or three days, where participants debate on current topics that journalists cover in Latin America, for instance: corruption, terrorism, poverty, or elections.

As of May 2007, approximately 4,300 Latin American and Spaniard journalists have participated in 230 workshops and seminars, conducted in 45 cities of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain.

Other focus areas of FNPI include:

New Journalism Award - CEMEX+FNPI:

The New Journalism Award is an initiative resulting from the strategic alliance between FNPI and CEMEX - a Latin American company - that has as main objective to promote journalistic excellence and the recognition of outstanding journalists from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain.

Award categories alternate each year: in odd-numbered years (2001, 2003 …) print and photo journalism are awarded, and in even-numbered years (2002, 2004 …) the awards go to journalistic pieces in radio, television, and the internet. In each category there are five mentions. The winner receives US$25,000, and the four nominees are invited to attend the awards' ceremony in Monterrey, Mexico.

Additionally, there is a Tribute Award every year to recognise a journalist with continuous dedication to the profession for at least 20 years, who merits distinction for his/her work and professional career. There is a prize of US$30,000; the candidates must be nominated by colleagues or by a journalism organisation.

Virtual Community:

The Foundation's virtual community is a communications and dissemination network in constant growth, composed of 24,000 people who receive information and services by email. They are journalists of all levels and job titles, journalism students and teachers in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe. Members receive information about upcoming events and useful materials for those working in journalism. Announcements of awards and workshops as well as applications for the workshops can be found online.

Publications:

The New Journalism Foundation has published eleven books so far, in two collections: six books in the New Journalism Collection created in association with the Economic Culture Fund of México (Fondo de Cultura Económica de México), under the editorial direction of Tomás Eloy Martínez; and five books published in the XXI Century Journalists Collection, in association with the CAF (The Andean Development Corporation).

Special Projects:



The Antonio Nariño Project:

In March, 2001 the New Journalism Foundation, accompanied by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation of Colombia (Fescol), Andiarios, The Freedom of the Press Foundation, the Foundation for Society and Media for Peace, created the Antonio Nariño Project. This is an initiative to create the necessary mechanisms to protect and respect the journalistic profession and free access to information in the midst of Colombia's armed conflict.

New Journalism Programme for the Caribbean Region of Colombia:

Workshops and seminars designed exclusively for journalists from the Caribbean Region of Colombia. The topics of the training sessions are especially relevant to journalists that work in this region - a very complex terrain for journalists to work in, given its critical conditions regarding armed conflict and political corruption.

Journalism and Children's Rights Project:

Inspired by the experience of the News Agency for Children's Rights (ANDI) in Brazil, the Foundation is designing a model to improve the quality of the news coverage of children's subjects in Colombia in association with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other institutions. The project includes the permanent monitoring and analysis of the information of the communications media; training based on the results of monitoring directed toward journalists and editors; technical assistance on the coverage of these subjects; and incentives for the journalists who achieve outstanding work.

Rights, Youth, Media Development, Conflict.

FNPI believes in the influence of high quality journalism on the strengthening of more democratic societies. Properly informed citizens become empowered to play an active role in all sectors of society, and this is only achieved by having the best journalists. With this objective in mind, they also seek association with mainstream and independent media, in order to include them in the process of improving journalism standards. All of their training sessions - workshops and seminars - have a strong ethics component.