Journalism in Paraguay: interview with Norma Flores Allende

“Many media commit gender-based violence, reinforcing the machista narrative, excusing femicides and promoting violence”, she says. Photo: courtesy

Norma Flores Allende is a journalist with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences at the National University of Asunción, Paraguay. Born in El Salvador, she built her professional career in Paraguay, where she has worked in communication agencies, digital media and magazines, also as an editor. In addition, she has collaborated with media outlets in Argentina, Mexico, and Sweden.

Between 2018 and 2019, Norma joined the third generation of the Latin American Network of Young Journalists from Factual / Distintas Latitudes. Currently, she also works as an English teacher in institutions in Asunción, where she lives.

Norma is one of the founders of Hína, a digital media dedicated to covering environmental issues and climate crisis in Paraguay. Below, she talks about journalism, democracy, and environmental coverage by the Paraguayan media.

Enio Moraes Júnior — Paraguay is the country most susceptible to the effects of climate change in South America, according to the ranking Vulnerability Index to Climate Change in the Latin American and Caribbean Region. How has this issue been covered by the Paraguayan mainstream media?

Norma Flores Allende — First of all, it’s important to understand who owns Paraguayan mainstream media. Corporate media belong to business empires related to land ownership…