After working as a journalist in commercial newspapers, magazines, radio and television and early Internet provider services, in the 1990s Al Giordano left behind commercial media and never looked back. For over a decade he’s published Narco News – www.narconews.com – reporting from Latin America, and founded its School of Authentic Journalism, which trains talented young men and women of social conscience to put journalism to use for the good of societies rather than only the good of one’s career.

In this piece, Giordano reflects on lessons learned from a decade-plus of creating media from below, and shares some of the many ideas and innovations Narco News has pioneered for how to create more authentic journalism in a time where the credibility of media outlets is at a precarious low.

Al Giordano