Regional Journalism Award in Sustainability was presented in Costa Rica; Dominican journalist wins 2nd place

Costa Rica.- The Regional Award for Journalism in Sustainability, created by Progreso, celebrated its fifth edition in Costa Rica, establishing itself as one of the most important spaces for the recognition of responsible journalism in Central America and the Caribbean. Over the course of five years, this contest has highlighted the work of communicators who promote sustainability through stories that inform, inspire, and transform realities, strengthening the public conversation on development, ethics, and social responsibility.

“The Regional Journalism Award in Sustainability was born with the conviction that journalism can be a transformative force for society. Today we celebrate those who, with their work, make good practices visible and promote a constructive conversation about sustainable development”, said José Raúl González, CEO of Progreso.

The works presented this year addressed essential themes such as environment, sustainable innovation, community development, governance, equity, and citizen participation.

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Each piece was evaluated by a high-level international jury, made up of specialists in journalism, communication and sustainability, who highlighted the quality, depth and creativity of the content.

Winners and recognitions of the fifth edition

In the 2025 edition, four recognitions were awarded, accompanied by statuettes designed by the Guatemalan artist Romi Maegli. The pieces, made with sustainable materials and textures that evoke concrete, symbolize the resilience, solidity, and impact of journalism in sustainability.

The winners of this edition were:

• First Place (USD$5,000) was awarded to Catalina Fabbri, from Costa Rica, who presented the report entitled “A 32-degree disease: the marine fever that suffocates the reefs in Golfo Dulce”.
• Second Place (Macbook Air) was obtained by Karla Alcántara, from the Dominican Republic, with the piece “Conserving to avoid losing: the race against the clock to protect turtle nests”.
• Third Place (SONY camera for video blogs) went to the Guatemalan journalists María José Aresti, Braulio Palacios, Miguel Rodríguez, Vinizzio Rizzo, Angie Guerra and Luis de León, who presented the report “Guatemala shows that sustainable logging is reconciling with the forest”.

In the student category, the winner of a DJI image stabilizer and publication of their work in Granito de Arena was Esteban Chacón Rojas, with the piece “The conquest of the ball: Towards the sustainability of women’s football in Costa Rica”.

The 2025 Regional Journalism Award in Sustainability strengthens Progreso’s vision as a company committed to creating shared value and promoting sustainable practices at the social, economic, and environmental levels. Since its first edition, the contest has sought to amplify responsible voices, raise awareness, and build a bridge between journalism, citizens, and the actors driving development in the region.

Progreso invites journalists and students from Central America and the Caribbean to continue participating in this space, which recognizes the positive impact of responsible communication and the power of stories that transform.