Alias Cóndor: The International Alliance Between DW, LA Times Studios, And Futuro Media Breaking New Ground In Narrative Audio

Deutsche Welle (DW), LA Times Studios, and Futuro Media joined forces in production, editing, and investigative reporting to launch Alias Cóndor (in Spanish) and Call Sign Condor (in English)—a collaborative project designed to bring this reality to global audiences across Latin America and the United States. The first of the four episodes has been available since September 23.

The project was born out of the field coverage and journalistic work of DW reporter Carolina Chimoy, who gathered exclusive material alongside soldiers on the ground. The ambition to turn that material into a high-impact, bilingual production was the driving force behind this collaboration.

To contextualize the scope of the project, Sam Baker, Audio Team Lead for Format Development at DW, explained the motivations behind the co-production agreement: “I knew this was a great story from the moment I heard Carolina’s pitch. However, we wanted to make sure it could reach as many listeners as possible across South and North America, and to achieve that, we knew working with great partners would be key. Right from the start, we knew we wanted to make this show in both Spanish and English.”

For his part, Darius Derakshan, Executive Producer of Podcasts and Director of Strategy at LA Times Studios, highlighted the importance of this brand synergy:

“Having previously worked with DW, we were very excited when they approached us with the concept for this long-form project. It provided an exciting opportunity to partner on a much larger scale, marking the first time LA Times Studios, DW, and Futuro have collaborated on a joint initiative.”

From the perspective of Peniley Ramírez, co-CEO and Executive Director of Futuro Media, the proposal made immediate sense given the nature of the gathered material: “Carolina Chimoy and later Sam Baker from DW reached out to us because making this story accessible to Spanish-speaking audiences was deeply important to them. They were aware of our experience in bilingual podcasts, and the partnership made complete sense since much of the field material recorded with the soldiers was in Spanish. We believed in the story from the very first moment and were deeply impressed by Carolina’s rigorous journalism.”

NARRATIVE INNOVATION AND PRODUCTION ROLES

One of the main operational challenges was adapting the original recordings for the English-speaking audience without losing freshness or natural delivery. According to Baker, the solution lay in breaking away from traditional dubbing formats:m”One thing we had to figure out for the English version (Call Sign Condor) was how to translate what the interviewees—who spoke mostly Spanish—were saying. With guidance from our colleagues at LA Times Studios and Futuro Studios, we decided to follow the modern podcasting trend where Carolina acts as the trusted translator and narrator, rather than using traditional-style voiceovers. I think the story is much more enjoyable to listen to as a result.”

Each company brought key elements to the podcast’s structure. Derakshan explained that LA Times Studios joined during the early stages of development, assigning a senior producer to work hand-in-hand with the production team and the DW reporter on narrative structure and scripting. Beyond acting as co-producers, LA Times Studios is also co-distributing the series as part of its catalog.

In terms of Spanish-language editing, Futuro Media poured its narrative audio expertise into shaping the overall structure and editing the four episodes of Alias Cóndor. They also brought their journalistic vision to bear in selecting the key characters, scenes, and pivotal moments tied to the series’ core theme.

THE HUMAN FOCUS: LIFE AND DUALITY ON THE FRONT LINES

By following “Cóndor,” the central character, the series delves into the profound reasons driving people born on the other side of the ocean to actively engage in a foreign conflict, enduring extreme temperatures and the daily violence of war.

For Anna Magzanyan, President of LA Times Studios and NantGames, shedding light on these stories represents a direct commitment to the audience:

“We are deeply proud to partner with DW and Futuro on this extraordinary series and to bring this vital story to a global audience. Shedding light on the personal front-line experiences of these Latin American soldiers is a profound responsibility, and expanding its reach aligns perfectly with our mission. We are honored to play a role in ensuring these voices are heard.”

Ramírez emphasized that the virtue of Chimoy’s journalism lies in portraying the coexistence of military violence alongside everyday moments of affection and resilience:

“We love this series; it brings a fresh perspective to the coverage of the war in Ukraine by telling the story of the conflict through the eyes and hearts of the people living through it and fighting in it—people who were neither born in Ukraine nor are of Ukrainian descent. Carolina skillfully captures that duality: the births and deaths, the laughter and tears, the grief and joy that exist side-by-side every day in Ukraine. Listeners will see that our main character, Cóndor, even in the worst circumstances of war, continues to search for happiness.”

For the Futuro Media executive, continuing to report stories that go beyond quick headlines to understand deep human choices is essential:

“This journalism—deeply human in its subject matter, treatment, and craft—is urgently needed at a time dominated by rapid headlines, misinformation, and AI-generated content. It serves as a reminder of why we need rigorous journalism, strong storytelling, and human verification now more than ever.”

Meanwhile, Derakshan described the production as setting an exceptional journalistic standard:

“This series successfully achieves a dual objective: it fulfills our core mission by elevating an essential global story that had been overlooked, while simultaneously driving audience growth, brand authority, and business value.”

IMPACT AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

Ramírez concluded by pointing out the expected impact on listeners: she foresees that audiences across Latin America and the U.S. will gain an understanding that war is not merely a figure in a government budget or a distant news report, but a human tragedy affecting millions.