Reach top Journalists who write about Barrio 18
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Barrio 18
paydesk has 12 reporters who cover Barrio 18. Our journalists are already on location, all over the world, and ready to work at a moment's notice. Our top correspondents who cover Barrio 18 are Karla Arévalo and James Bargent. Use our journalist directory to find an Barrio 18 member to work for you.
Journalists Who Cover Barrio 18
Karla Arévalo
I am a journalist and correspondent with experience covering news in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. I offer writing, video recording, and fixer services for international media seeking reliable and real-time information from the region. I have worked as a correspondent for various media ...
Spanish
Interview (Video / Broadcast)
Feature Stories
Content Writing
+7
Investigative Reporting
Research
Social
+2
Jobs Completed 13
Job Success Rate 93%
Usually Responds Within an hour
Related Articles
What does the 'Bukele model' on security in El Salvador consist of?
El Salvador's government, under President Nayib Bukele, has implemented a stringent security strategy known as the 'Bukele model' to combat gang violence, particularly targeting Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18. The Plan Control Territorial, initiated shortly after Bukele's presidency began, has significantly reduced homicide rates. However, the regime of exception, which allows for extended detentions and other severe measures, has faced criticism for human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests and prison overcrowding. Despite these concerns, the strategy has garnered substantial public support, with many Salvadorans approving the government's tough stance on crime.
Balanced
Factuality Scale
Center-Right
Political View
James Bargent
Based out of the city of Medellin, I have covered Colombia and Latin America for a wide range of media outlets including the Miami Herald, the Independent, the Toronto Star and Sky News. I work predominantly in print, but have also produced videos, photography and multimedia work and have done TV ...
English
Spanish
News Gathering
Feature Stories
Content Writing
+9
Fact Checking
Jobs Completed 3
Usually Responds Within a few months
Related Articles
26% of El Salvador Homicides Linked to Gang Members
Over a quarter of murder convictions in El Salvador in 2015 involved gang members, challenging the government's stance that gang violence is the primary cause of the country's high homicide rate. Public Ministry figures show that out of 739 murder convictions, 193 were gang members, with the majority belonging to MS13 or Barrio 18. These statistics suggest that the government's narrative oversimplifies the complexity of the security crisis in El Salvador.
Informative
Factuality Scale
James Blears
James Blears is a BBC trained broadcast journalist with more than 30 years experience. He's lived and worked in Mexico for more than 20 years. During that time he's covered many major stories and built up an extensive network of contacts. James is adept at radio, televison and print journalism. ...
English
Feature Stories
Content Writing
Corporate Content
+6
Fact Checking
Jobs Completed 104
Job Success Rate 95%
Usually Responds Within a week
Related Articles
Women's prison riot in Honduras leaves more than 40 people dead
A riot at the Tamara Women's prison in Honduras resulted in the deaths of 41 inmates, primarily due to a fire started during clashes between rival gangs. The incident has shocked the nation, with President Ximoara Castro pledging severe consequences for those responsible. The riot highlights the pervasive influence of organized crime within the prison system, which often undermines prison staff through bribery or intimidation. A State of Emergency has been declared, and an investigation is underway.
Balanced
Factuality Scale
Jose Manuel Cuevas
Colombian journalist, editor and researcher based in Spain.
English
Spanish
Feature Stories
Risk Analysis
Research
+4
Politics
Current Affairs
Arts & Books
+7
Jobs Completed 3
Related Articles
What Bukele's Victory Alerts Us About the Future of Democracy
Nayib Bukele, self-proclaimed 'coolest dictator in the world,' secures another five-year term in El Salvador despite constitutional restrictions. His administration, marked by propaganda and mass popularity, has concentrated power and undermined democratic institutions. Bukele's aggressive crackdown on gangs like Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18 has significantly reduced violence, but at the cost of alleged human rights abuses and attacks on media and NGOs. His governance raises concerns about democracy being used merely as a tool for achieving results, potentially eroding its foundational principles.
Interpretive
Factuality Scale
Right
Political View
Danny Gold
Currently covering the fight against ISIS in Mosul as of October 19th, available for phoners and Skype interview. I'm a former producer and correspondent for Vice News, and have covered Iraq since 2012, reporting on the fight against ISIS in Syria and Iraq since they first took Mosul in the summer ...
English
Interview (Video / Broadcast)
Documentaries
News Gathering
+9
Fact Checking
Related Articles
The Underworld Podcast
The Underworld Podcast covers various criminal activities and their impacts across the globe. Topics include a Lego theft ring in LA, the rise of drug trafficking in the Pacific, the violent history of the Hells Angels in Canada, and the controversial anti-gang measures by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. The podcast also features an interview with Denis O’Reilly, a member of New Zealand's Black Power gang, discussing his life and the country's criminal underworld.
Balanced
Factuality Scale
Center-Right
Political View
David Gonzalez
David Gonzalez specialize in video, photography, and graphics. Based in Miami, United States of America.
Spanish
Video Package (Web / Broadcast)
Cultural
Jobs Completed 4
Related Articles
Scarred by the Past, an Ex-Gang Member Aims for Revival
Raúl Valladares, a former member of the Salvadoran gang Barrio 18 Revolucionarios, is striving to rebuild his life after a jailhouse conversion led him to abandon gang life a decade ago. Despite his reformed spirit, his gang tattoos mark him as a target for discrimination and violence. Photographer Fred Ramos has documented Valladares's challenges in reintegrating into society, which include unemployment, social exclusion, and the threat of violence. El Salvador's high homicide rate and the government's zero-tolerance approach to gangs exacerbate the difficulties faced by former gang members like Valladares. His story reflects the broader issues of violence and social inequality in post-civil war El Salvador.
Informative
Factuality Scale
Alan Hernández Pastén
I'm a journalist based in Mexico City with 12 years of experience as a reporter and producer. I've collaborated with international media outlets such as BBC, The Financial Times, PBS, Vice News, Sky Sports and more, writing and editing text pieces, scripts for news videos in both English and ...
English
Spanish
Video Package (Web / Broadcast)
Audio package (Radio / Podcast)
Interview (Video / Broadcast)
+9
Business
Finance
Politics
+11
Related Articles
El Salvador's Human Rights Ombudsman Reports Police and Soldiers Faked Gunfights to Cover Up Executions
El Salvador's Human Rights Ombudsman, David Morales, has reported that police and soldiers have executed gang members and falsified evidence to suggest the deaths occurred in gunfights. After a nine-month investigation into two incidents from last year, Morales concluded that eight gang members were executed by the police in March 2015, and the army lied about a clash in August where they reported killing five gang members. The report comes amid a surge in violence, with El Salvador having the highest murder rate for a peacetime nation and a 158 percent increase in killings from the previous year. The government has taken a hard stance against gangs, classifying them as terrorist organizations and creating an anti-gang military unit. Critics, including human rights activist Raul Mijango, argue that these repressive measures will worsen the situation and ignore the need for dialogue to resolve social issues.
Nathaniel Janowitz
Nathaniel Janowitz is a journalist/writer/photographer based in the Americas. He currently works for VICE and previously published with outlets like The New York Times, ESPN, BBC, High Times, Esquire, others.
English
Spanish
Interview (Video / Broadcast)
Vox Pop
News Gathering
+10
Business
Finance
Politics
+17
Related Articles
El Salvador Wants to Hold Mass Trials of Accused Gang Members
El Salvador's congress has approved legislation to hold mass trials for tens of thousands of alleged gang members arrested during a crackdown initiated by President Nayib Bukele. The new measure aims to expedite legal proceedings and could allow up to 900 defendants to be prosecuted together. While the crackdown has reportedly reduced homicides and bolstered Bukele's popularity, it has raised serious concerns from human rights groups about potential abuses and violations of due process. Critics argue that the approach fails to address the root causes of gang violence and may lead to further recruitment within prisons.
Interpretive
Factuality Scale
Right
Political View
Milli Legrain
Milli Legrain is a multilingual multimedia journalist and producer based in Washington, D.C. Fully trilingual (English,Spanish, French) and fluent in Portuguese. Fifteen years’ experience in communications and journalism in Latin America (Brazil, Mexico and Chile), Europe (Spain and the UK). ...
English
French
Portuguese
+1
Video Package (Web / Broadcast)
Interview (Video / Broadcast)
Vox Pop
+14
Business
Politics
Current Affairs
+15
Usually Responds Within a day
Related Articles
God vs. gang? For some in El Salvador, rehab happens at church
In El Salvador, Protestant churches like Eben Ezer Church are playing a crucial role in rehabilitating former gang members, offering them acceptance, belonging, and stability. Despite the challenges, including lack of institutional support and societal skepticism, these churches provide a new identity and hope for those seeking to leave gang life. The government's hardline approach to gang violence contrasts with the churches' more compassionate methods, highlighting a significant debate on the best way to address gang-related issues in the country.
Balanced
Factuality Scale
Center-Left
Political View
Agus Morales
Agus Morales is a journalist based in Barcelona, Spain.
Jobs Completed 1
Related Articles
From violence in a Honduran prison to the massacre in a Ugandan school
The article covers a range of international events, including a violent prison riot in Honduras, an airstrike by Israel in the West Bank, and a tragic school massacre in Uganda. It also touches on a migrant shipwreck in Greece, political unrest in Senegal, and various geopolitical developments involving the US, China, and Russia. The piece provides detailed accounts of these incidents, highlighting the human impact and broader political implications.
Balanced
Factuality Scale
Center
Political View
Natalia Oelsner
Natalia is a Bolivian journalist based in Lyon, France. She has worked in countries such as Bolivia, El Salvador and France and reported for international media outlets such as Euronews.
English
French
Spanish
Journalism
Jobs Completed 1
Related Articles
El Salvador: A 'millennial' mayor the favourite to win the next presidential elections
Nayib Bukele, a former mayor of San Salvador, is the favorite to win the upcoming presidential elections in El Salvador. Known for his use of social media and anti-corruption stance, Bukele appeals to the urban middle-class and youth. Running for the right-wing Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA), his candidacy raises questions about his political ideology. El Salvador faces significant challenges from street gangs and migration issues, which are central to the election discourse. Bukele's main rival is Carlos Calleja from the National Republican Alliance (ARENA).
Balanced
Factuality Scale
Center-Right
Political View
Julia Riera
Julia Riera is a multimedia journalist based in Barcelona, Spain. Skilled in video shooting, script writing, editing, and broadcasting live and prerecorded.
Catalan
English
French
+1
Video Package (Web / Broadcast)
Audio package (Radio / Podcast)
Interview (Video / Broadcast)
+6
Politics
Current Affairs
Sports
+5
Jobs Completed 10
Job Success Rate 91%
Usually Responds Within an hour
Related Articles
Before, they couldn't even look out the window: Salvadorans who support Bukele's hardline approach
The article discusses the impact of President Nayib Bukele's hardline security policies in El Salvador, particularly in the neighborhood of La Campanera. Residents express relief at the reduction in crime, attributing it to Bukele's regime of exception, which has led to the arrest of over 80,000 alleged gang members. However, human rights organizations criticize the government for widespread rights violations, including arbitrary detentions and forced disappearances. Despite these concerns, Bukele's popularity remains high, with his policies being emulated in other crime-ridden countries in the region.
Balanced
Factuality Scale
Right
Political View