Conflict fields of journalistic praxis in Colombia

• Main Author: Rousbeh Legatis
• Format: Article
• Language: deu
• Published: Berlin Regener Publishing House 2010-10-01
• Series: Conflict & Communication Online
• Subjects: Colombia; journalism; conflict coverage; physical violence; infrastructure; precarious wage situation
• Online Access: http://www.cco.regener-online.de/2010_2/pdf/legatis_engl.pdf

The chronic uncertainty for journalists and editors in carrying out their professional work in Colombia has many sources and has been serious for decades. Currently – besides indicators of extreme physical violence (such as daily attacks, abuse, kidnappings and murders) – problem areas are strongly marking journalistic work in Colombia that are often neglected in the international discussion, such as inadequate training offerings, unsatisfactory infrastructure in the workplace, precarious wage situations, lack of independence in relationship to editors and a poorly taught understanding of professional ethics. These structural problems produce qualitative deficiencies – especially in conflict reportage. But instead of stagnation, change is occurring. Colombian journalists are revising their self-image, at the same time developing a problem consciousness in their own work, and are actively trying to correct the deficiencies.