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 Published Monday, August 17, 2020 Needs
of expats shaped
AM Costa Rica during 19 years By James Brodell Editor emeritus of A.M. Costa Rica with Sharon Brodell, long-suffering wife In 2001 after returning to Costa Rica for retirement my wife and I saw the need for a daily internet sheet that briefly listed things to do each day. So A.M. Costa Rica, meaning Costa Rica in the Morning, was born Aug. 15, 2001, some 19 years ago. We figured there was a need for expats to receive a daily update of meetings, deadlines and other basic news that was not being provided by the existing English-language weekly. When I was general manager of The Tico Times for a brief period, I urged without success that the company increase its web presence. So between drinking beer, watching “Betty, la Fea” and otherwise trying to fill the daylight hours, I approached my wife, who reluctantly agreed that such a website would be of great service to expats, including those who were far from San José, the government center. I envisioned perhaps a single page or perhaps two in order to publish news updates, reader comments and general information about living in Costa Rica. Then fate took a hand. My wife, Sharon, had traveled to Escazú the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. She placed an urgent call to me as I lounged around the Sabana Oeste apartment. She told me of the aircraft hijackings and the collapse of the first World Trade Center tower. Quickly I learned that air travel had been shut down and that many foreigners were trapped in the country. From a handful of readers in the New York area details began to arrive. I dove in to provide the necessary information for readers and others in the English-speaking community. Read the first post at A.M. Costa Rica Tuesday, September 11, 2001 Edition. The need was urgent. The information was flawed. Fear was high. The U.S. Embassy locked down. During that day and those that followed we tried hard to provide the information expats and foreign visitors needed. The crisis was real. Tourists were at the airport or checking out of their hotels as the news arrived. Residents here worried about their relatives and friends who may have been in New York. The newspaper reported on prayer vigils, the heightened security and the fears that Muslim residents might face unpleasantness. The late columnist Jo Stuart shared her anguish. The need for daily news after that disaster caused the newspaper to shift focus and begin covering other aspects of expat life. The second major tragedy for many expats happened less than a year later when the Villalobos family high-interest scheme and several other similar operations began to collapse. Many expats were horrified. Some had millions of dollars invested in these schemes. That was easy to do when the interest rate promised was in excess of 30 percent a year. Some expats in the middle of building their dream home suddenly realized they were broke. Retirees were jolted to learn that they must now return to work. Family lives by the hundreds were disrupted. The story played out for years with the newspaper declining to sign on to the claim that the Villalobos brothers had been singled out by jealous bankers and, if the government would just back off, the pair would pay back all they owed. Even critics of the newspaper admit that the even-handed handling of these news stories was a key to the publication's success. Readership easily reached more than 100,000 visitors a day. On the business side, the more alert business people quickly saw that a daily promotion of their products brought more sales. Costa Ricans traditionally are suspicious of advertising, and many expat business people had limited experience running their own operation. Still, those who saw the benefit of A.M. Costa Rica advertising quickly became fierce supporters. After all, the publication is in dozens of countries at the touch of a computer key. Tourism operations here benefit as a group most of all. A.M. Costa Rica allows hospitality firms to target their message directly to potential tourists in the United States, Canada, Asia or Europe. Time gets us all. So three years ago my wife and I ended our relationship with the newspaper in favor of the employees. Sharon and I continue to be amazed at how they quickly became competent in all the details of newspaper management. We were happy to leave the Costa Rica publication in the hands of a highly competent team. We look back on our 17 years operating the newspaper as more of a service to expats than an ordinary job. We appreciated the viewpoints of Jo Stuart and the exclusive articles provided by Garland Baker. We grimace remembering all the hurdles the Costa Rican government throws up in the face of private enterprise. Yet, we are happy that along with the perceptive Baker we could help expats navigate the bureaucratic labyrinth. He continues to do so, as does Victoria Torley in the gardening realm. Costa Rica, like the rest of the world, faces rocky times due to the viral epidemic. Yet, we are hopeful that the next year will see a resurgence of commerce and tourism that will benefit all. -------------------------- Editor's note: Mr. Brodell, founder and long-time editor of A.M. Costa Rica, can be reached at: jay@amcostarica.com |
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