"Colombian journalists experience abundant threats and acts of violence as well as corporate and governmental obstacles to publishing the truth. In response, many reporters engage in selfcensorship, eschewing stories to protect their livelihoods—and their very lives. Our in-depth interviews with s
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ixteen journalists in the post-conflict era, some of whom have had to leave the country because of such threats, disclose the severity of the problem in deeply textured ways. The results show that dependency on sources and advertising, severe judicial and online harassment, and powerful editorial pressures prevent journalists from reporting freely. The generalized fear, the distribution of official advertising and political publicity, the media’s property, and local journalists’ vulnerability are the key factors that trigger self-censorship. Nevertheless, these journalists also have counterstrategies to circumvent the problem and further democracy, such as sharing scoops with colleagues when covering sensitive issues, finding international funding, or creating new online media." (Abstract)
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"The 55-year long Colombian conflict with the FARC guerrilla movement ended in 2016 with the signing of a peace agreement, which resulted in a substantial reduction in the number of victims of socio-political violence. Paradoxically, this did not improve security for journalists, who were targeted:
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one was killed, another suffered sexual abuse, and 262 received threats. In a qualitative case study, we content analyzed 592 tweets in order to document how threats from a political powerholder contributed to the formation of networks engaging in verbal violence on Twitter. Results showed that attacks on freedom of the press originated from a legitimate actor, caused an extremely polarized discussion among citizens who took sides, and provoked further threats and accusations. Conciliatory positions were hard to find." (Abstract)
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"Through a content analysis of 532 programs screened on various national television networks in Colombia, this paper examines portrayals of women in the country’s narconovelas, fictional series derived from the telenovela genre that resonate forcefully with the public. We do so in order to gain a
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better understanding of their role in representing gender in Colombia. Relevant topics include: the widespread violence against women in a traditional, patriarchal country, the ineffectiveness of policies targeting gender discrimination, and ideologies of machismo and Marianismo. These practices are discussed as factors that may prevent women’s social empowerment and participation in the workforce and politics of the country. Our results show that, as per Colombia’s prevailing social relations, narconovelas demonstrate a gendered power imbalance and mestizo heteronormativity via macho plots that glamorize violence against women. Women are rarely key characters in narconovelas, and when they appear, they are dependent on men, and attain status through men or their families. In addition, the genre represents continuous verbal and physical aggression against women, especially if they belong to ethnic or racial minorities." (Abstract)
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"A partir de un análisis de contenido realizado a 28 materiales educativos digitales para formar periodistas de Latinoamérica sobre el cubrimiento de la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres entre 2012 y 2018, el presente artículo pretende establecer si el enfoque de dichos recursos pedagógicos es co
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herente con los lineamientos de las agencias internacionales para la formación de los reporteros, en el sentido de propiciar una cobertura adecuada del tema. De manera que corresponda al cambio de paradigma de la atención de desastres a la gestión del riesgo, en el cual se busca propiciar el conocimiento de los riesgos, la reducción y el manejo de los desastres. Los resultados del análisis identificaron avances y limitaciones en la construcción de los manuales, tanto en lo que tiene que ver con su pertinencia pedagógica como en la inclusión de temas centrales para la GRD. A partir de los hallazgos se ofrecen reflexiones para que se fortalezcan la formación de los periodistas en la GRD, con el fin de que favorezca una gestión prospectiva del riesgo y fortalezca el desarrollo social." (Abstract)
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"Este artículo analizó la cobertura de la gestión de riesgo de desastres en tres regiones de América Latina para conocer si el cambio de paradigma, de pensar el riesgo como una construcción social en lugar de enfocarse en el desastre, se veía reflejado en las narrativas periodísticas. Mediant
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e un análisis de contenido de 130 noticias se demostró que la redacción presenta vicios como privilegiar fuentes oficiales y comunicados de prensa o contar los hechos sin análisis ni contexto. Se evidenció que el énfasis permanece en el desastre, lo que representa una oportunidad de ejercer un periodismo de prevención, que presente la GRD como un tema transversal en la agenda mediática, alineada con temas del desarrollo como pobreza, corrupción o salud." (Resumen)
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"Letters to the editor published by two Colombian newspapers during 1999–2008 were examined. Most addressed themes, domestic politics and the citizens’ affairs, were analyzed herein to describe emotions from a qualitative perspective. Findings showed that the internal armed conflict was the main
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driving force to express the individual’s emotions and judgments. Significant events triggering a wide range of emotions were identified. Two units of meaning emerged: patriotism under siege, to account for people’s love for the nation regardless of their affliction; and fear, the predominant emotion, to explain public distress caused by this intractable conflict. Being aware of the public’s emotional condition questions whether it is worth considering the paradigm of objectivity as an ethical ideal in the journalistic field. It also encourages reporting conflicts through the perspective of peace journalism, emphasizing possible solutions. Since Colombia is currently moving to a post-conflict phase, this could help to heal the social issue." (Abstract)
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"The Global Journalist in the 21st Century systematically assesses the demographics, education, socialization, professional attitudes and working conditions of journalists in various countries around the world. This book updates the original Global Journalist (1998) volume with new data, adding more
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than a dozen countries, and provides material on comparative research about journalists that will be useful to those interested in doing their own studies. The editors put together this collection working under the assumption that journalists' backgrounds, working conditions and ideas are related to what is reported (and how it is covered) in the various news media round the world, in spite of societal and organizational constraints, and that this news coverage matters in terms of world public opinion and policies. Outstanding features include:"Coverage of 33 nations located around the globe, based on recent surveys conducted among representative samples of local journalist, comprehensive analyses by well-known media scholars from each country, a section on comparative studies of journalists and an appendix with a collection of survey questions used in various nations to question journalists" (Publisher description)
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"El presente artículo analiza los discursos periodísticos y la representación de temas claves vinculados a la gestión del riesgo de desastres en cuatro países de la subregión Andina. El estudio se apoya en elementos teóricos de la investigación en medios y periodismo, tales como Agenda Setti
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ng (establecimiento de la agenda periodística) y Encuadre, y de conceptos claves sobre gestión del riesgo de desastres. El estudio analiza 1) la manera como un conjunto de medios escritos de la subregión andina, a través de sus ediciones online, abordaron y caracterizaron la gestión de riesgo durante el período abril, 2007 - julio, 2008; 2) la naturaleza de los discursos periodísticos predominantes durante ese período; y 3) las implicaciones que tales discursos pueden tener en la comunicación para la gestión de riesgo de desastres. El estudio ofrece evidencia empírica que puede servir de base para orientar acciones futuras que ayuden a periodistas y comunicadores a informar mejor a la comunidad." (Resumen)
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