¡Hola! My name is Gabriela Barzallo
A bilingual storyteller, media consultant, and entrepreneur working between New York and Latin America.
I was born and raised in Ecuador, and moved to the U.S. chasing a dream: to tell the stories that connect our worlds! Thanks to my immigrant mother’s strength, I made it to NYU, where I earned a B.S in Media, Culture, and Communication—and I’ve been reporting across borders ever since.
I focus on the issues that shape Latin America and its U.S. diasporas: migration, human rights, environmental and reproductive justice, and international politics. My reporting has taken me from the Amazon rainforest to the streets of Mexico City, and everywhere in between.
I began my career at Democracy Now! and now contribute to The Guardian, BBC, El País, AJ+, and other leading outlets in English and Spanish. Above all, I believe in storytelling that is rooted and driven by the people at its heart.
The depth of my international reporting has been made possible by the support of fellowships and awards that have helped me grow as a journalist and expand my global network. I’m honored to have been recognized by:
FPNN
NYU Stern Climate Finance Initiative
Beyond reporting, I also share what I’ve learned—speaking at international events and training journalists in new, community-rooted approaches to storytelling.
Selected speaking & training engagements:
Speaker, Zarelia Festival of Feminist Journalism in Latin America – Quito, Ecuador (September 2024)
Panelist, Covering the Crisis of Security in Ecuador in American Media – New York (July 2024)
Trainer, Certified Instructor, Solutions Journalism Network
Here is a selection of my journalism and documentary work:
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![Person holding a sign reading "Latinos con Harris Walz" at a public event.]()
Al Jazeera: US election campaigns shift strategies as Latino voter allegiances change
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![Street market with banner reading 'Punto violeta contra la violencia feminicida', promoting anti-violence awareness, with assorted items for sale on a table.]()
The Guardian: Stickers, soap and legal help: the rise of Mexico City’s ‘feminist markets’
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![man cutting banana tree stem with saw]()
Al Jazeera: ‘Modern-day slaves’ seek justice in landmark trial
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Al Jazeera: In Brazil, an abortion debate pits feminists against the church
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![Woman with traditional face paint and colorful necklace holding a microphone.]()
El Pais: Nina Gualinga levanta la voz contra violencia de género que sufren las mujeres indígenas
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![Box with assorted candies and gums, including Skittles, M&M's, Trident, and Orbit, held by a person.]()
Al Jazeera: ‘The only way for us to survive’: The life of a New York City candy seller
A Toxic Legacy (Director)
A short documentary on three decades of pollution and government neglect in the Ecuadorian Amazon stemming from Texaco Chevron’s operations. It highlights the ongoing impunity and the communities’ fight for justice. (In production)
Only The Wind Knows (Producer) Social Media
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Social Media 〰️
As a millennial journalist, I see social media as a powerful tool to amplify underreported stories and connect with wider, more diverse audiences.
Here are a few examples of how I’ve transformed journalism into viral, accessible content:
Consulting Services:
Storytelling isn’t just for journalism—it’s a powerful tool for impact.
I help mission-driven organizations and NGOs craft narratives that build trust, inspire action, and connect with communities across the U.S. and Latin America.
Through a mix of editorial strategy, transmedia storytelling, digital content creation, in-depth research, and more, I help teams turn complex issues into clear, compelling messages that resonate.
Clients include:
Reach out to learn more about my work and achievements with each organization.
Media Entrepreneurship:
But beyond working with organizations, I’m also building something of my own…
After completing programs with the Google News Initiative and Craig Newmark Journalism School, I am building LAT MEDIA — a media startup connecting Latin America and its U.S. diasporas through cross-border storytelling. The goal is to support independent journalists and amplify local voices.
It’s a work in progress, and I’m looking for collaborators who believe in the power of storytelling to help bring it to life.
