Journalists in Peru, insecurity in contexts of instability

From a political point of view, Peru is experiencing situations of instability and polarization that worsen over time. Added to this situation is the Covid-19 health emergency, which resulted in the collapse of the health system. In times of crisis, instability and polarization, the media ecosystem plays a crucial role in the evolution of conflicts. However, we have little empirical information on the main protagonists of the media system: journalists. This constitutes a gap in knowledge that prevents projecting public communication policies. In this sense, within the framework of the comparative studies of the Worlds of Journalism we ask ourselves about the situation of insecurity in the journalistic exercise. Based on an empirical and quantitative approach, a nationwide survey will be carried out, the results of which will clarify the various situations of insecurity of journalists.

In times of crisis, instability and polarization, the media ecosystem plays a crucial role in the evolution of conflicts. In Latin America, media ecosystems are characterized by being oligopolistic with a marked tendency to make content from capital cities visible (Becerra and Mastrini, 2017; 2009; 2006; Waisbord, 2009). Although Peru follows the regional trend (Ojo Público, 2017; Open Society Foundations, 2010; Lovatón, 2016), a mapping of formal media carried out in 2019 found that we have more local radio stations than newspapers or informative television; and the South macro-region has as many media outlets as Lima and Callao (Retis et al, 2021; Domenack et al, 2021).

In Peru we have little empirical information on the main protagonists of the media ecosystem: journalists. In general, the presence of Peruvian data in several comparative studies is irregular (Becerra and Mastrini, 2017; 2009; 2006; Hanitzsch et al., 2019). Little is known about their sociodemographic characteristics, working conditions and the conceptions they have of journalistic practice. This constitutes a gap in knowledge that prevents projecting public communication policies. In this sense, within the framework of the comparative studies of the Worlds of Journalism we intend to investigate an aspect of working conditions: the situation of insecurity in the journalistic exercise. We understand insecurity in its two aspects: job insecurity and the risks of journalistic practice.