On October 29, INMA and Google News Initiative (GNI) awarded 50 news media professionals around the world with its debut Elevate Scholarship. This series features these impressive media professionals who are shaping our industry.

One of the best words to describe Nancy Verdezoto is “passionate.” During her 13 years working at El Comercio in Ecuador, she has had the opportunity to show that passion in many ways. 

Originally working as a political journalist, her reporting not only appealed to readers but also landed her the Jorge Mantilla Ortega Award in 2009 for her investigation into the link between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the government of Rafael Correa. Today, she has moved into an editor’s position, helming a magazine for families. Regardless of what she’s writing about, Verdezoto said her motivation is her desire to help others. 

“I love to help people,” she said. “I want to be a better journalist, one who understands the needs for information in Ecuador.”

But her desire also extends to helping improve the industry as a whole, and she realises such improvement begins within her. 

“I want to become a leader in my media organisation and help to grow the media business with the credibility and honesty this profession needs,” she said.

As a recipient of the Elevate Scholarship, she wants to improve her leadership skills while also furthering teamwork and connections within the industry. With an eye always on improvement, she wants to polish her journalism skills while also increasing her knowledge of digital operations. 

Despite her ambition, she realises that she faces an uphill road, but believes that she can use this as an opportunity to blaze a trail for others. 

“I work at a newspaper where there aren’t women in manager positions,” she explained. “I want to change that by helping gender equality. If they understand that women are capable of leading a media company, it would be a huge change in this industry.”

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