The Worlds of Journalism: Safety, Professional Autonomy, and Resilience among Journalists in Latin America

The Worlds of Journalism: Safety, Professional Autonomy, and Resilience among Journalists in Latin America offers one of the most comprehensive portraits of journalism in the region. Drawing on surveys with more than 4,000 journalists across 11 countries as part of the Worlds of Journalism Study, this trilingual volume examines how professional journalists navigate threats to safety, economic precarity, and political pressures while upholding democratic values. The book highlights key trends: widespread labor insecurity, gender disparities, emotional strain, and the rise of digital-native media. Despite challenges, journalists overwhelmingly endorse roles that strengthen democracy, from monitoring power to amplifying marginalized voices.

Each chapter provides country-specific insights:

• Mexico reveals a daily struggle against violence and state hostility.
• El Salvador explores coping strategies under Bukele’s authoritarianism.
• Costa Rica warns of emerging threats in a historically safe haven.
• Brazil details insecurity and gendered vulnerabilities.
• Venezuela examines resilience under authoritarian control and economic collapse.
• Colombia shows autonomy amid fragmentation and persistent violence.
• Ecuador uncovers self-censorship and protective measures in a precarious media system.
• Peru highlights extreme labor precarity and regional inequality.
• Bolivia reflects neutrality as a survival tactic in polarized contexts.
• Chile demonstrates resilience despite social unrest and structural challenges.
• Argentina exposes sustainability challenges in a shrinking media market.

Download the book for free in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Published: 2026