Is El Faro Politically Biased? Ownership, Funding, and Editorial Policy
El Faro Overview and Political Bias
Observers describe El Faro as a critical voice against Central American corruption, though critics, including the Bukele administration, allege it operates with a partisan anti-government bias funded by foreign interests. While praised for investigative rigor, detractors argue its reporting on criminal gangs and state policy is sometimes sensationalist or politically motivated.
| Standpoint | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Overall political leaning | Center Left |
| Estimated number of readers | 850,000 |
| Israel support | Pro-Palestine / Humanitarian focus |
| Use of loaded / emotional language | Medium |
| Target Audience | Elite / Activist / Intellectual |
El Faro History
Established in 1998 by Carlos Dada and Jorge Simán, El Faro was Latin America’s first digital-only news outlet. Originally based in El Salvador, it gained international acclaim for exposing corruption and human rights abuses. In 2023, the outlet relocated its administrative operations to Costa Rica citing systemic political harassment.
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Who owns El Faro?
El Faro is owned by its founders through the company Carlos Dada y Jorge Simán S.A. de C.V. Its funding primarily comes from international grants provided by organizations like the Open Society Foundations and the Ford Foundation, supplemented by reader contributions, merchandise sales, and specific investigative journalism awards.