No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveNew Editor at TT Helm

New Editor at TT Helm

Veteran reporter and editor Brent Israelsen has been appointed the new editor of The Tico Times.

Israelsen, 46, comes to San José from the U.S. daily The Salt Lake Tribune, in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he supervised the seven-person Justice Desk, which under his direction won numerous prestigious awards for their coverage of Hurricane Katrina, the

Trolley Square

massacre and lost Boy Scouts.

Before becoming an editor, Israelsen covered the environment and Utah’s Bosnian community. An award-winning reporter, Israelsen traveled on assignment to Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait and The Hague. He also has visited many parts of Latin America.

Israelsen’s wife, Rebecca Walsh, who is also a journalist, and their son, Jack, plan to join him in Costa Rica shortly.

Israelsen replaces Auriana Koutnik, who served as Tico Times editor from 2003 to 2007. Koutnik resigned to spend more time with her young son, Kaleo, and husband, Esteban. She will continue to contribute to the newspaper.

This week, Israelsen shared his first impressions with us.

TT: It seems like you had a successful career going at The SaltLake Tribune. What went wrong?

BI: (Laughs) I couldn’t bear another Utah winter. Seriously, I needed a new challenge and I love Costa Rica. It’s on my short list of places to spend the rest of my days. Not that those days are coming soon or anything.

After two weeks in Costa Rica, what do you have to say for the country?

It’s a beautiful place filled with lovely people and opportunities for outdoor adventure, which I love. But it is also a country in serious transition, with unfathomable growing pains. Not since the Central American conflicts in the 1980s has there been such a need for good journalism here.

What is your vision for The Tico Times?

To continue its 50-year tradition of serving the community. I hope to help take it to new places and new readers. I will emphasize solid reporting, concise and interesting prose, catchy headlines, good photography and useful graphics. I want it to be a product that people can’t wait for and can’t do without.

What do you enjoy most about being editor so far?

The staff. I enjoy working with talented, energetic people who love what they do and care about the subjects they cover.

I hear your Italian is better than your Spanish.

Yes, but I plan to lobby the Legislative Assembly to make Italian the official language of Costa Rica.

 

Trending Now

Costa Rica Moves Forward with Crypto Regulation to Combat Financial Crime

Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly has advanced a landmark bill targeting the regulation of virtual asset service providers (VASPs), aiming to bolster the nation’s defenses...

When Will Poás Volcano National Park Reopen? Here’s What We Know

Although Poás Volcano has entered a more stable phase and the alert level has been lowered to green, the national park will remain closed...

Costa Rica Surf Film Festival Honors ‘Pura Vida Bodysurfing’ with Top Audience Award

Pura Vida Bodysurfing is an award-winning short film that strips surfing back to its essence—riding waves without a surfboard. Filmed across Costa Rica’s legendary...

A Costa Rica Love Story: From Rustic Cabina to Separate Dreams

My Tica wife and I have been together for over a quarter century. When we met, I was living a simple life here. Three...

Fishing, Wildlife, and History in Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado

Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado is a magical and charming town. It’s one of the country’s hidden gems, best known for its world-class sport...

Costa Rica Introduces New ₡500 Coin: Old One No Longer Valid

Visitors to Costa Rica this month should be aware of an important change to the country’s currency. As of Tuesday, July 1, the old...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica