Papagayo’s Secret Files is the only Costa Rican investigation to become a finalist in the Inter-American Press Association’s Excellence in Journalism Award, which annually recognizes the best news reports in the Americas.
The Voice of Guanacaste revealed that the major of investors in the Gulf of Papagayo tourism complex hid their transactions and money in tax havens, which is not illegal, but is out of sight of Costa Rican tax authorities.
In order to report the story, The Voice joined journalists from around the world through the International Center for Journalism and spent months investigating databases of the Paradise Papers and the Panama Papers.
“Qualifying as a finalist is a great honor and an incentive to keep seeking out new paths of professional excellence,” said Marcel Granier, president of the IAPA Awards Committee.
Editor-in-Chief Maria Fernanda Cruz agrees with him.
“For us, this is a recognition that local problems are also important and that wearing the glasses of community journalism bears fruit,” Cruz said.
More than 1,000 submissions were received this year, according to the organization. They chose 60 finalists across 13 categories.
“The final announcement of the winners and honorable mentions will be made in the coming days,” IAPA said in a press release on August 10.
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