Overview:
The Haitian Times has concluded its third Haiti Journalism Bootcamp, a three-week training supported by The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The program, held March 10–28, 2025, trained 17 journalists from across Haiti in enterprise reporting, source verification, ethics, and multimedia journalism. Participants produced final stories demonstrating investigative and photojournalism skills. The Haitian Times will continue mentoring select reporters post-bootcamp to further strengthen Haiti’s media ecosystem.
NEW YORK — April 14, 2025 — The Haitian Times is proud to announce the completion of its third Haiti Journalism Bootcamp, an intensive three-week training program with support from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation that empowers Haitian journalists with advanced skills in enterprise and investigative reporting. This year’s cohort of 17 journalists hailed from various regions of Haiti — notably the Great South — including Jacmel, Les Cayes, Miragoâne, Jérémie, and Petit-Goâve, and participated in sessions from Monday, Mar. 10–Friday, 28, 2025.
“Over the last 30 years, our profession has undergone a dramatic transformation —technology offers powerful tools but makes it harder to separate fact from rumor,” said Garry Pierre-Pierre, founder of The Haitian Times. “In Haiti, where the press was built on fragile ground, the rise of social media has further eroded credibility. Now more than ever, we must rely on thorough source verification, which is why this training emphasizes both the theory and practice of journalism.”
Led by a team of seasoned journalists from The Haitian Times and special guest instructors, the Bootcamp’s curriculum combined theory and practice to help participants develop advanced reporting techniques. Core topics included:
- Enterprise and Investigative Reporting: Methods for in-depth research, interviewing, and fact-checking.
- Photojournalism Essentials: Visual storytelling, image composition, and ethical considerations in photo usage.
- Multimedia Tools and Technology: Strategies for using digital platforms to gather information, produce stories, and reach broader audiences.
- Ethics and Source Verification: Emphasis on building credibility and combating misinformation.
Each session featured hands-on workshops, field reporting exercises, and interactive discussions that encouraged participants to explore real-world issues affecting Haiti’s social, political, and economic landscapes.
“Journalists across Haiti face unique challenges in gathering information and verifying sources,” said Fritznel D. Octave, Haiti Editor at The Haitian Times. “Through this Bootcamp, we’ve equipped them with concrete skills to delve deeper into the stories that matter most in our communities.”
A key goal of the Bootcamp is to equip Haitian journalists with the skills and confidence to produce impactful, data-driven stories that hold institutions accountable and bring untold community narratives to light. As a final project, each participant was required to produce a comprehensive, 1,200-word story incorporating photo or video elements, showcasing newly acquired investigative, multimedia, and photojournalistic skills.
Following the Bootcamp, The Haitian Times will continue collaborating with selected reporters to offer ongoing editorial guidance, story-pitching opportunities, and publication platforms. By fostering these professional relationships, The Haitian Times aims to strengthen the local media ecosystem and help elevate journalism standards in Haiti.
“We are committed to strengthening our local media ecosystem by investing in people who can tell accurate and compelling stories about Haiti,” added Vania André, publisher and editor-in-chief of The Haitian Times. “We hope these journalists will continue to grow professionally and ultimately help shape a more informed Haitian society.”
“Timely, factual, on-the-ground reporting is like oxygen for information integrity,” said Marc Lavallee, director of technology product and strategy at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. “This program shows how journalists can build experience in high-stakes situations and serve their communities with credible, courageous reporting.”