ABOUT US
We are the first Aruban association founded
by journalists for journalists.
OUR MISSION
Raising higher standards through better journalists on Aruba
Our mission is to empower all journalists in Aruba through advocacy, education, and a commitment to ethical reporting, creating a community where media professionals can collaborate, innovate, and uphold the highest standards of journalism.
We strive to create a media landscape where journalists feel empowered to pursue truth, hold power accountable, and create meaningful public discourse. We believe that quality journalism is the cornerstone of a healthy democracy. By stimulating collaboration among journalists, media organizations, and other stakeholders, RAPP aims to drive journalistic excellence and inclusivity throughout the Caribbean.
Red Arubiano di Prensa Profesional (RAPP) was founded in 2024 out of the collective need to uphold the principles of journalistic integrity and the recognized need for organization within the Aruban media landscape. It was conceived when a collective of journalists working
in print and digital media came together with a shared vision. Their objective is to address the current challenges in the media sector in Aruba and enhance the quality of journalism across the island. The organization’s foundation reflects a commitment to professionalizing the field and promoting journalistic excellence, paving the way for a more cohesive and impactful media environment in Aruba.
Meet our board
Melissa Stamper is an investigative journalist, editor, and podcaster. She reports on Aruban arts and culture, health, climate, the environment, corruption and Dutch Kingdom affairs. With a Bachelor's in English Language and Culture as well as an MA in English Linguistics with a specialization in Media, Editing, and Translation, she has worked for international editorial publications in English and Dutch and was the Editor-in- Chief of the Dutch newspaper Amigoe Aruba up to 2021.
Nowadays, she works as a freelance journalist with international news outlets such as Antilliaans Dagblad, Ñapa, NTR Caribisch Netwerk, EWPodium and EWMagazine, Omroep Zwart, U.S. World News & Report, and This American Life.
Originally from Venezuela, Andreina began her studies in Advertising and Marketing at the Instituto Universitario di Nuevas Profesiones. In 2004, she graduated as a Higher University Technician (TSU) and in 2009 earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Communication specializing in Advertising and Public Relations from the Universidad Arturo Michelena. Additionally, she is certified to work as a broadcaster and has produced various radio programs in Venezuela. In 2021, she earned a certificate on "Freedom of Expression ; for journalists with the Centro Internacional de Actualisacion Profesional at the Universidad Catolico Andres Bello in
collaboration with the Inter-American Press Society (SIP). Until October 2024 she worked as a senior editor at the local newspaper Bon Dia Aruba and specializes in investigative journalism. She currently works as a freelance journalist.
Yorleny, originally from Costa Rica, earned her Bachelor's degree in Social Communication from the University of Costa Rica in 1995, and a license in Advertising and Journalism specialization by 1997. She then embarked on a diverse career in her homeland, coordinating government projects and teaching Advertising at reputable universities. In 2002, she moved to Aruba and became Executive News Editor at Matutino DIARIO. She is also active in seminars and international events, including a stint as a guest
lecturer at Hunter College in New York. Additionally, she serves as a facilitator for a communication course in Papiamento aimed at the immigrant community. Today, she continues her journalistic work while pursuing consultancy projects and entrepreneurial ventures.
List of Members
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.