By Global Sports Journalism Desk
Published: November 2024
Main Facts
In a resounding display of unity and trust, Colombian sports journalism reached a significant milestone during its latest national assembly in the vibrant city of Montería, Córdoba. Faiver Hoyos Hernández, a distinguished journalist hailing from the Huila department, was unanimously re-elected by all regional chapters to serve as the president of the Colombian Association of Sports Journalists (ACORD Colombia) for the 2026–2030 term.
This decisive vote by acclamation ensures that Hoyos Hernández will extend his leadership tenure to over a decade at the helm of the nation’s premier sports media organization. ACORD Colombia, a non-profit entity representing more than 1,000 sports journalists nationwide, serves as the primary advocate, professional home, and regulatory voice for reporters, commentators, and broadcasters across the country.
The newly renewed mandate sets an ambitious blueprint for the upcoming four-year cycle. Key strategic pillars for the 2026–2030 administration include intensifying professional development programs, protecting journalists from professional malpractice and venue censorship, integrating cutting-edge digital media paradigms—such as artificial intelligence—into the association’s statutes, and aggressively expanding ACORD’s footprint on the international stage.
Chronology of the Assembly and Future Roadmap
The roadmap for the newly extended presidential term was carefully mapped out during the intense deliberations in Montería. Beyond the electoral outcome, the assembly established a clear timeline of strategic gatherings and institutional milestones designed to transform ACORD Colombia into a modern, globally connected guild.
The 2026–2030 Strategic Timeline:
- November 2024 (Montería Assembly): Unanimous re-election of Faiver Hoyos Hernández for a second consecutive four-year term, securing leadership through 2030 and consolidating internal consensus across all regional seccionales.
- Throughout 2025–2026: Rollout of localized academic partnerships, defensive legal frameworks to prevent field-level abuse of authority against reporters, and preparatory phases for international expansion.
- 2027 (Yopal Annual Assembly): ACORD Colombia will host its flagship annual national assembly in Yopal, capital of the Casanare department. Local governmental hospitality from the municipal and departmental administrations will anchor this gathering.
- 2027 (Riohacha Constitutional Reform Assembly): A specialized constitutional assembly will convene in Riohacha, La Guajira, specifically dedicated to overhauling ACORD’s foundational statutes. This update is designed to reflect the realities of modern digital journalism, multimedia convergence, and the integration of artificial intelligence.
- 2027 (European Chapter Launch): ACORD plans to officially inaugurate its 29th international chapter, establishing a permanent operational base in Europe to complement its footprint in the Americas.
- 2026–2030 Term Execution: Continuous monitoring of professional standards, validation of empirical experience, and consolidation of institutional alliances with sports federations, clubs, and international bodies.
Supporting Data and Institutional Metrics
To understand the weight of Hoyos Hernández’s re-election, one must look at the quantitative data defining ACORD Colombia’s current standing within the global sports media ecosystem. The organization is not merely a local club; it is a massive network wielding considerable domestic and international influence.
Key Organizational Metrics:
- Total National Membership: Over 1,500 active sports journalists and media professionals are currently affiliated across ACORD’s regional chapters.
- International Affiliation (AIPS): Approximately 350 Colombian sports journalists are officially credentialed members of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS—Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive).
- Continental Leadership: Under Hoyos Hernández’s administration, ACORD Colombia has cemented its position as the single largest continental association within the Americas regarding accredited AIPS members.
- Global Chapter Expansion: ACORD currently oversees 27 domestic chapters across Colombia. This includes the recently established United States chapter, with the upcoming European chapter set to become the 29th structural pillar of the organization.
- Educational Milestones: A landmark collaboration with UNINPAHU (Fundación Universitaria Inpahu) successfully regularized the professional status of 30 veteran journalists who had practiced empirically for over three decades, granting them official university degrees as Social Communicators and Journalists.
Official Responses and Leadership Vision
Speaking exclusively to the press following his confirmation, Faiver Hoyos Hernández expressed profound gratitude to the regional leaders who cast their votes in his favor. He emphasized that the unanimous decision reflects a collective desire for continuity, stability, and progressive modernization.
"The first thing to do is to express my deepest gratitude to the presidents of the different regional seccionales across the country for their trust," Hoyos Hernández stated. "This election by unanimity—what we call acclamation, where everyone without distinction supported our continuity at the head of the entity for four more years—means we will remain at the post until 2030."
Confronting Professional Precarity and Securing Rights
A central theme of Hoyos Hernández’s upcoming term is the defense of labor rights and physical safety for journalists in the field. Across Colombia, reporters frequently face hostility, arbitrary bans from stadiums, and administrative censorship from sports clubs and tournament organizers. The re-elected president made it clear that ACORD will adopt a zero-tolerance stance toward these abuses.
"We are going to continue working in favor of Colombian sports journalism through strategic agreements with clubs and sports confederations," Hoyos Hernández emphasized. "We must knock on doors to ensure there is no abuse of authority against the work carried out by our colleagues. Too often, reporters are unjustly removed from stadiums and sports venues. We want to put an end to the mistreatment of our profession."
Educational Elevation and Empirical Validation
One of the crowning achievements of Hoyos Hernández’s prior administration was bridging the gap between practical experience and academic credentials. Through institutional agreements, veteran journalists who built their careers through decades of fieldwork were finally granted formal university recognition.
"In this new phase, we want to continue placing heavy emphasis on the training and continuous education of Colombian sports journalism," he noted. "We recently achieved a milestone through our partnership with UNINPAHU, graduating 30 colleagues who had been carrying out journalistic work empirically—professionals with over 30 years in the field who previously lacked formal degrees. This stands out as one of the most significant and recognized achievements of our management."
Implications for the Future of Colombian Sports Journalism
The unanimous re-election of Faiver Hoyos Hernández carries profound implications for the trajectory of sports media in Colombia over the next decade. As the industry faces existential shifts brought on by technological disruption, shifting economic models, and the democratization of content creation, ACORD Colombia is positioning itself as a proactive stabilizer and modernizing force.
1. Digital Adaptation and Artificial Intelligence Integration
The planned constitutional reform assembly in Riohacha is arguably the most forward-thinking initiative of the 2026–2030 term. Traditional sports journalism is no longer confined to print columns and radio broadcasts; it lives in real-time digital ecosystems shaped by social media algorithms, data analytics, and generative artificial intelligence.
By amending ACORD’s foundational statutes, the leadership is acknowledging that ethical standards, copyright protections, and accreditation criteria must evolve to encompass digital-native creators, independent podcasters, and AI-assisted reporting. This legal modernization ensures that ACORD remains relevant to younger generations of sports content creators who might otherwise operate outside traditional guild protections.
2. Geopolitical and Global Positioning
By expanding its international footprint—exemplified by the successful establishment of the U.S. chapter and the impending launch of the European branch in 2027—ACORD Colombia is transforming into a global diaspora network. For Colombian journalists working abroad, or international correspondents covering South American sports, these chapters offer institutional backing, networking opportunities, and seamless international accreditation through AIPS. This global strategy elevates the profile of Colombian sports journalism, facilitating international joint ventures, cross-border investigative reporting, and global academic exchanges.
3. Strengthening Regional Democracy
The decision to alternate future assembly sites between Yopal (Casanare) and Riohacha (La Guajira) underscores a decentralized governance model. By bringing national leadership directly to regional chapters, ACORD ensures that the concerns of reporters working in secondary and tertiary cities—often facing greater infrastructural and security challenges—are directly integrated into national policy.
Summary Outlook
As Faiver Hoyos Hernández prepares to steer ACORD Colombia through 2030, the association stands at a critical juncture of opportunity and challenge. Armed with an unshakeable mandate of unity, a robust educational agenda, a modernized legal framework for the digital age, and an expanding international network, Colombian sports journalism is well-equipped to defend its practitioners, elevate its professional standards, and project its voice onto the global stage.
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