Bolivian journalists work for less money and in worse conditions

A study warned about the increasing “precariousness” of working conditions for journalists in Boliviawhere about 80% of informants have jobs “unstable” and the wages fell by more than 50%.

The data is part of the study ‘Situation of working conditions and labor rights of journalists in Bolivia‘, carried out by the Center for Studies for Labor and Agrarian Development (Cedla) in collaboration with the National Association of Journalists of Bolivia (ANPB) and the National Union of Institutions for Social Action Work (Unitas).

The report is a qualitative study that “recover your voice” of journalists about their current working conditions, Cedla executive director Walter Arteaga told the media.

The author of the study, researcher Bruno Rojas, specified that the data was obtained in 2023 through a survey to which 152 journalists responded and in workshops “participatory diagnosis”, five in person and two virtual, with informants from all over the country, in addition to 22 in-depth interviews.

The researcher pointed out that the report confirms the concern previously expressed by the leaders of the journalistic unions “that it has been happening with great force” in the sector “a process of job insecurity.”

“A precarization that has been occurring in the country for several years and that has established itself in all economic sectors and all areas”he indicated.

The study indicates that almost 80% of journalists in Bolivia have “unstable, temporary, casual, ‘freelance’ jobs and other modalities that have been established” in the sector, he explained.

This is “in tune with what is happening” regarding labor instability in the country, he added.

The report also reflected that the salaries paid in journalism “have fallen drastically”in more than one fifty%and that little more than Four. Five% of the journalists surveyed stated that they were earning less than the national minimum wage, which in 2023 was 2,362 bolivianos (about US$339).

Near to 70% of the informants do not contribute to the pension system for their retirement and the Four. Five% indicated that he does not have health insurance, while the 91% lacks life insurance, among other findings.

According to Rojas, in addition to this, other benefits were cut in some media outlets, such as transportation or production bonuses, “with the condition of maintaining the job at journalist”.

These shortcomings in terms of social protection and occupational safety “portray this situation of job insecurity in which most journalists in the country find themselves,” he added.

For the researcher, journalists “independent” Are actually “workers disguised under the figure of ‘freelance’ and with methods of payment or recognition of their work that are worrying.”

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