Mission and Approach
Founded in Ecuador in 2011, GK is an award-winning and influential news organisation that produces in-depth journalism using a human-rights-based approach. Rather than chasing breaking news, GK focuses on explaining the most relevant events of the day, transforming information into knowledge, and empowering citizens.
Driven by a commitment to gender justice, climate protection, and accountability, GK’s approach has been guided by:
- Build depth & innovation: Producing in-depth stories and pioneering formats that push the boundaries of traditional media content
- Accountability: Investigating and exposing corruption cases that shape public debate and strengthen democratic oversight.
- Sustainability and Collaboration: Developing a successful business model and building a content studio that now serves clients across the Americas.
Through this approach, GK has earned some of the region’s most prestigious journalism awards, solidifying its role as an influential leader of thoughtful news perspectives in Ecuador.
Recent Achievements
In recent years, GK has continued to refine its role as one of Ecuador’s most innovative and audience-focused media organisations. Two projects that stand out from the past 18 months illustrate GK’s commitment to creating social change, storytelling, and community development.
The first was an interactive project about the Quito metro system, which encouraged people to use the metro more by showing plans and activities around the 15 stations. By blending service journalism with digital creativity, GK provided a practical tool that helped residents navigate and rediscover their city.
Quito metro project
The second was a photographic essay series, intended to bring visual storytelling back to the newsroom to reconnect with readers. Published weekly, each edition focuses on a single photograph and pairs it with a crafted essay about aspects of Quito often overlooked. These pieces offer intimate, beautifully crafted portraits of the city, reconnecting audiences with the places and stories that shape their everyday lives.
Together, these projects reflect the innovative approaches that GK uses to capture audiences and create strong change socially and in the community.
GK Photo essays
Impact on Communities and the Media Landscape
GK’s excellent contribution to understanding Quito life has led to its projects being purchased and commercially published by companies based in Ecuador. This has fostered discourse among its audiences about their own experiences of urban life. For instance, in the photographic essay, audiences not only eagerly comment and request specific locations to be photographed but also share their own photos, reflecting the level of community impact GK has had.
Many publications have exceeded expectations by going global after being selected by Google Discover. Many pieces have reached global audiences after being featured on Google Discover, drawing international attention to life in Ecuador. One standout example is La ciudad a medio crecer, which was recently purchased by the French magazine Courrier International and translated into French.
Challenges and Strategic Approaches
In a country facing multiple political, economic, social, and security-related crises, doing journalism and running an independent media outlet has become increasingly difficult. The sustainability of any media outlet is under constant pressure, as each disruption inevitably affects operations and revenue. The ongoing security crisis, for example, has had a major impact on GK’s content studio, a main source of revenue.
In response, GK has developed new commercial products for organisations and companies while maintaining editorial focus. This approach has allowed GK to balance meaningful work with sustainable revenue generation, ensuring it can continue its work in an increasingly precarious environment.
Reflections on GFMD Membership
“Being a member of GFMD has allowed me to expand my network of contacts, colleagues, and friends. It has helped me connect with organisations that would have been much more difficult to reach otherwise. It’s a space of genuine mutual support for everyone involved” – Isabela Ponce, Chief Editorial Officer
Connect with GK
GK welcomes partnerships, collaborations, and conversations with journalists, media organisations, and companies globally.
📧 Isabela Ponce, chief editorial officer: isabela@gk.city
🔗 Website: https://gk.city/
📱 Social Media:
Stay tuned for more stories in our Member Spotlight series. If you’re a GFMD member and would like to be featured, please reach out to fnzigno@gfmd.info — we’d love to share your story with our global network.