costa rica newspapers

The Tico Times, an award-winning weekly that was the first English-language newspaper in Central America, was founded in 1956 by veteran U.S. newswoman Elisabeth (Betty) Dyer. The paper was originally a school project run by students at the Lincoln School in San José.
The editorial in the first edition, May 18, 1956, explained that the non-profit organization was begun in order that young people interested in journalism could receive practical, on-the-job training, and in so doing, provide the English-language public of Costa Rica with a newspaper of special interest to the U.S. and British expatriate comunities and our Costa Rican friends who know, or are learning, English.

The early editions of The Tico Times averaged eight pages, printed on letterpress. Its all-volunteer, all-student staff quickly swelled to include enthusiastic members of the expatriate community, as well as correspondents up and down the hemisphere, former colleagues of the Dyers who were delights to lend a hand to the feisty little weekly.

From the very first edition, the paper had readers outside Costa Rica - a surprising development that has persisted ever since, giving The Tico Times its unique flavor as a worldwide community paper.

Always a pioneer, The Tico Times was the first newspaper in Costa Rica to print color photos on its front page; the first to practice investigative reporting; and the first to cover environmental issues. It has also been a leader in the hemisphere's fight for press freedom. Former Publisher Richard Dyer fought a 20-year battle against the obligatory licensing of journalists which resulted in the abolition of Costa Rica's licensing law in 1995 and earned Dyer the Inter-American Press Association's Grand Prize for Freedom of the Press that year.

The small but mighty Tico Times has also reaped other prestigious awards, including the IAPA-Pedro G. Beltrn Award for Distinguished Service to the Community (1981); a Special Citation from Columbia University's Maria Moors Cabot Awards (1985); the National Conservation Prize (1990); the Salvation Army'á’’s Other Awards (1998); and the National Tourism Chambers Media Award (1998).

Despite boasting readers in 50 countries, a thriving Online Edition (the TT joined the leading daily La Nacion in becoming the first newspapers in Costa Rica to venture into cyberspace in 1995, long before many of their brethren in the developed world had made the leap), a best-selling annual visitor'só“”’ guide and a growing list of popular sections and supplements, The Tico Times remains a friendly, funky family operation.

Today, we print between 42 and 48 pages each Friday, half of which are news and the other half the beloved Weekend section. We distribute over 15,000 copies of our paper in Costa Rica, the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia. Elisabeth Dyer's daughter Dery now runs the show.

Our cluttered offices in a converted old house in San José court district are home to Snuffy II, The Tico Time's spoiled and adored dog; an oasis for resident and migratory birds who nest in our trees; and a playground for a steady stream of staffers' pets.

We also continue to welcome students and aspiring journalists from all over the world, and are proud that many of our grads have gone on to top jobs with major newspapers and magazines in the United States, Canada and Europe.

costa rica newspapers
A.M. Costa Rica: Daily news in English - A.M. Costa Rica: Daily news in English - Daily news in English covering tourism, sports, government, crime, current events, agricuture, boating, retirement issues, weather and travel produced by our own staff five days a week with an extensive archive of past articles and photographs.
Dear Betty - Dear Betty - Dearbetty is the newest and most comprehensive weekly-updated news site in Costa Rica. The week's news, gossip and lies about sunny Costa Rica.
Diario La República - Diario La República - Español - Daily newspaper in Spanish.
El Heraldo - El Heraldo -
The Tico Times On Line - The Tico Times On Line - An excellent and vocal paper Based in San José, Costa Rica, The Tico Times is an independent weekly covering news, business, tourism and cultural developments in Costa Rica and Central America.
Washington Post - Washington Post -

costa rican newspapers for information on local issues, politics, events, celebrations, people and business. Looking for accommodation, shopping, bargains and weather then this is the place to start.

Information about holidays, vacations, resorts, real estate and property together with finance, stock market and investments reports; also look for theater, movies, culture, entertainment, activities and events all covered in Costa Rican newspapers.

independent English-language weekly covering news, business, tourism, and cultural developments in Costa Rica.