PerDebate is a periodical, annual publication of the journalism career of the College of Communication and Contemporary Arts (COCOA) of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ). It is published in Spanish and English, a journal of scientific interest, which aims to serve for the analysis and reflection of issues related to contemporary communication, with special emphasis on journalism. It will publish articles in which scientific and academic rigor is observed and which conform to the subject matter and rules of publication. Research, projects, experiences, in short, all the stories that are sought from journalism have a space for discussion in this monographic series. PerDebate solicits and publishes articles on both empirical and theoretical research, as well as conceptual reflection on professional and creative practices, in all areas related to journalism. The topics range from media analysis, media products, technological innovations for information and data management, audience interaction in the digital age, new platforms and journalistic initiatives, among others.
Authors who publish in the journal agree to the following terms: Authors will retain their copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication of their work. The work will simultaneously be subject to the Creative Commons Attribution License, which allows third parties to share the work provided that its authorship is acknowledged and that its first publication in this journal is cited. Authors may enter into additional non-exclusive licensing agreements for the distribution of the published version of the work. This allows them to publish it in a monographic volume or reproduce it in other forms, provided that the initial publication in this journal is acknowledged. Authors are permitted and encouraged to disseminate their work through the Internet: Before submission to the journal, authors may deposit the manuscript in preprint archives or repositories (preprint servers/repositories), including arXiv, bioRxiv, figshare, PeerJ Preprints, SSRN, among others. This may foster valuable academic exchanges and increase citations of the published work (see The Open Access Effect). After submission, authors are encouraged to deposit their article in their institutional repository, personal website, or scientific social networks (such as Zenodo, ResearchGate, or Academia.edu).
Emotions and journalistic standards in climate coverage
This article examines journalistic representations of climate change in X, with a particular focus on the role of emotions. Through a content analysis of posts published by the 10 U.S. media outlets with the highest circulation regarding COP26, it was found that the climate crisis occupies a secondary place on the media agenda and that the use of formal and unemotional language contrasts with the strategies used to promote and disseminate messages on social media, which affects the effectiveness of climate communication. The urgency of the climate crisis requires journalism and the media to maintain a critical perspective in favor of an emotional shift that engages audiences in the environmental struggle.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hilda Muñoz-Pico, Xavier Gómez-Muñoz https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Sports journalism and transmedia convergence
This study analyzes transmedia convergence in La Radio Redonda 96.9 FM. Using a mixed-method approach, it examines both narrative strategies and performance indicators across platforms such as Facebook, X, and TikTok. The quantitative analysis reveals high levels of engagement, especially in visual and participatory formats. Additionally, the Transmedia Convergence Index (TCI) is identified as a key factor in the study. Overall, the transmedia approach has increased audience loyalty and participation, positioning La Radio Redonda as a successful and innovative case in Ecuadorian digital sports journalism.
Copyright (c) 2025 Álvaro Pazmiño https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Sports journalism in Ecuador is undergoing a digital transformation in which female journalists use transmedia strategies to carve out a space in this traditionally masculinized field. This study examines how four Ecuadorian professionals (Maite Montalvo, Analí Vasco, Daniela Romero, and Soledad Rodríguez) are using TikTok alongside media to cover sporting events in 2024, with the specific objective of analyzing the characteristics of their transmedia narratives and their impact on building their personal brand. Through virtual ethnography and content analysis of 435 TikTok videos, combined with the journalists’ media output, the research reveals distinct patterns: while TikTok is used for immediate, high-engagement content, the media outlets offer in-depth analyses. International coverage, in particular, accounted for a high percentage of the recorded interactions
Copyright (c) 2025 Patricia Inca León https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Transformations, challenges and “pending debts”
Journalism is undergoing profound transformations that extend beyond technology or artificial intelligence, affecting its narratives, practices, working conditions, and social role. The articles in this volume address topics ranging from the use of transmedia strategies in media and social networks to analyses of news coverage, migration, climate change, and emotional representations in X. They also highlight the vulnerabilities of local and regional journalists, especially women, revealing risks, precarious working conditions, and a lack of state protection. Furthermore, the strategic use of X in Ecuadorian politics is examined, as well as the challenges posed by AI in visual production, which can reproduce stereotypes or blur the lines between reality and artificially generated content. Overall, the volume reflects a journalistic field that needs to adapt, protect its professionals, and champion more inclusive and pluralistic narratives.
Copyright (c) 2025 Paulina Escobar https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
This article reflects on the transition from analog to digital journalism, highlighting the author’s personal experiences. It discusses how technology has transformed reporting, from teletypes to artificial intelligence, and how this evolution has impacted the immediacy and quality of information. The author analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of this shift, noting that although digitalization has democratized access to information, it has also intensified issues such as post-truth and information overload. Additionally, the impact of algorithms and artificial intelligence on perception of reality and social polarization is examined. The article emphasizes the need for digital literacy to address these challenges and reflects on the future of journalism in the digital age.
Copyright (c) 2024 Alvaro Samaniego Ponce https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
This research analyses changes in the migration coverages of seven journalists in 2024. They were fellows of the course Migration Coverage to the United States: The Myth of the American Dream? The study had a qualitative approach and a descriptive scope, using in-depth interviews with one encounter per journalist. It concludes that trainings on migration coverage have a positive impact, as journalists now focus their work on human stories rather than cold facts and figures.
Copyright (c) 2025 Martina Lapo Robayo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Communication strategies of the national government of Daniel Noboa on the social network “X” regarding the Popular Consultation of April 21, 2024
This study analyzes the communication strategies used by the government of Daniel Noboa on the social network X during the campaign for the Popular Consultation held on April 21, 2024. A mixed-methods approach was applied using observation forms and interviews with political communication experts. Findings reveal a strategy based on emotional messages about security and employment, with strong digital impact but limited by the lack of a persuasive narrative and disconnection from popular sectors.
Copyright (c) 2025 Iris Díaz Alulima, Mg. Sc. Gladiz Salazar Atiencie, Hever Sánchez https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Radiography of Women Journalists in Ecuador
This article, based on the Femmedia project (2024), reflects on the state of journalism in relation to gender in Ecuador. Through data and testimonies, it reveals systemic and multidimensional inequalities: low representation, insecurity, stereotypes, discrimination, and violence. These findings highlight scenarios of labor precariousness and the urgent need for a public agenda that ensures equity and safety in journalistic and communication work.
Copyright (c) 2025 Tatiana Paulette Sandoval Pizarro, Nathalie Sofía Tomalá Calderón https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
From resistance to exile and forced closure
This article presents the testimony of one of its authors in the form of an interview. It also documents the evolution of the digital outlet El Ferrodiario from its beginnings to its closure in 2024. The case presented is analyzed within the framework of the debates on press freedom, censorship, and violence. This work seeks to raise awareness of the importance of ensuring journalists’ well-being to preserve press freedom.
Copyright (c) 2025 Lcda. Andreina Martínez , Mgtr. Charly Castillo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
This study analyzes the television coverage of the death of former President Sebastián Piñera, which occurred on February 6, 2024, by the news programs 24 Horas and Meganoticias. Using a mixed-methods approach, it identifies themes, narrative framings, and audiovisual resources. Editorial differences influenced the symbolic representation of the former president, revealing how media shape public memory in moments of national mourning.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ayleen Pérez Ruz, Catalina Palacios Ojeda, Dra. Paz Crisóstomo Flores https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Voices from the territory: Shuar insurgent journalism against the dominant media discourse
This study analyzes the communication of the Shuar People as a form of insurgent journalism in response to the dominant media discourse in Ecuador. Based on a methodology that interweaves ethnographic approaches, life narratives, and critical discourse analysis, it identifies narrative practices that generate meaning and sustain community, while challenging hegemonic frameworks of representation and projecting other ways of speaking, knowing, and resisting from within territorial rootedness.
Copyright (c) 2025 Diego Rivas https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Building Inclusive Visual Narratives with Artificial Intelligence
div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0 standard-markdown"> This essay analyzes the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the construction of visual representations within advertising in Ecuador, with a particular focus on the spot "Copa América Ecuador 2028". It examines how these images generate narratives that aim to highlight the country's ethnic and cultural diversity, while at the same time risk reproducing stereotypes by associating Ecuadorian identity primarily with rural or folkloric elements. The essay also discusses ethical dilemmas related to the use of images of minors in generative contexts, as well as the need for diverse databases to avoid biased representations. Through this analysis, it is concluded that AI offers opportunities to expand creativity and democratize audiovisual production, but it also requires responsible management to ensure inclusive and authentic portrayals of Ecuadorian diversity.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sabina Valdez Jácome https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
The truth is not only important: it is essential
Copyright (c) 2024 Tania Orbe Martínez; Diego Quiroga https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Copyright (c) 2024 Tania Orbe Martínez; Santiago Castellanos https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Víctor Hugo Castillo: Irregular migration is more profitable than drug trafficking
This article presents an interview with Victor Hugo Castillo, a reporter specialized in migration in McAllen, city of the State of Texas, United States, on the border with Mexico. Castillo describes how irregular migration has become more profitable than drug trafficking, due to the high costs that migrants pay to cross the border. Relatives shocking stories of migrants facing kidnappings, abuses and extortion during their journey. The journalist also shares his personal experiences, the challenges of covering these issues and highlights the need for security measures and emotional support for reporters.
Copyright (c) 2024 Emilio Zamora, Víctor Hugo Castillo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Some ethical considerations about automated journalism
Automated Journalism is the application of Artificial Intelligence for the automatic creation of journalistic content based on algorithms. This journalism is more of a communicator than a mediator of human communication and is altering the ways of accumulating, storing, recording, processing, transmitting, and consuming information. This analytical-critical article raises some ethical dilemmas of automated journalism using original documentary sources. Professionals and the media must develop critical criteria with informed knowledge about how these new technologies impact the practice of journalism.
Copyright (c) 2024 Eliana Mariña https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Analysis of the agenda setting in the first 100 Days of Daniel Noboa's government
This research compares the official agenda of the Presidency with that of two Ecuadorian media outlets during the first 100 days of Daniel Noboa’s government. Using a quantitative-qualitative approach, interviews with experts and editors were conducted, and 272 publications were analyzed. It was found that Teleamazonas focuses on entertainment, while Primicias covers national issues. On TikTok, political coverage was minimal, with only 7.25% of posts related to politics, showing no correlation with the official agenda.
Copyright (c) 2024 Milena Gálvez https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
The balance and relevance given to topics of women's intimate health have been scarce, that is why, this thesis explored the informational sphere related to the space granted to content on women's intimate health within Ecuadorian social media. It is evident from which angles each media outlet works the information, how they present it, and how necessary it has been for them to engage with women's health. The term Spotting of information is attached to the idea of intermittent information, like menstrual spotting, an irregular and discontinuous bleeding that occurs due to hormonal changes or contraceptive side effects.
Copyright (c) 2024 A. Martina Palacios Palacios Guerrero https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Historical and discursive configuration of migration:
The global reconfiguration has established conditions in the material sphere of life, with a deep impact, especially on human mobility. For this work, an analysis is made of the media and discursive treatment of migration, questioning how a social imaginary has been produced, linked to the reproduction of a racist, hierarchical and systemic ideology, which criminalizes the irregular transit of people, in a process linked to the deprivation of the human condition.
Copyright (c) 2024 Ada Celsa Cabrera García, Juana Marcela Jaimes Acevedo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Content analysis on TikTok during the 2024 referendum campaign in Ecuador
The Ecuadorian government uses TikTok as a communication tool to strengthen its image of power and authority in the 2024 referendum and referendum campaign. Through the “theatricality of power,” the videos disseminated on this platform deploy a visual and discursive strategy aimed at legitimizing the government’s role, representing the military and police as protectors of the citizenry and justifying the use of state violence as a resource to guarantee public security
Copyright (c) 2024 Luis Edwin Quimis Arteaga https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Copyright (c) 2023 Diego Quiroga Ferri https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Journalism: innovation, resilience, reinvention
The title of this issue of #PerDebate, Resilience and innovation: immersive narratives, new formats and economic models in times of crisis, once again underlines the need for journalism to reflect on the conditions that have caused its crisis in today's societies. As we know it today, journalism arises in a context of epistemological, technological, communicational and business models typical of modernity and the capitalism of the liberal democracies of the 19th and 20th centuries. If this context changes, as has been happening since the end of the 20th century and with greater intensity in the 21st century, it is not surprising that journalism has entered into crisis. Typically modernist concepts such as truth or objectivity, which were paradigmatic in modernity, have been questioned for decades in the humanities and social sciences.
Copyright (c) 2023 Santiago Castellanos https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Sidney Tompkins: "Mental health is an issue that goes beyond journalistic work"
For over 40 years, Sidney has practiced clinical psychotherapy for children, adults, couples and professionals for nearly 45 years. Together with her husband, Al Tompkins, a senior lecturer at the Poynter Institute, she has worked with journalists from around the world who have suffered traumatic stress. Most recently, they have worked with Ukrainian and Russian reporters who have covered the fighting that began on February 24, 2022.
Copyright (c) 2023 Pamela J. Cruz, Eric Samson https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Influence of monkeypox on Spanish fact-checkers: Analysis of their activity on Facebook
This article analyzes the publication and interaction dynamics of fact-checkers on Facebook during the crisis caused by monkeypox in Spain. For this, a quantitative analysis of a total of 2,740 publications issued by the 4 Spanish fact-checkers is carried out. The results show that monkeypox has barely had an impact on the activity or interaction received by the Spanish fact-checkers in their verifications.
Copyright (c) 2023 Javier Abuín-Penas https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Digital Journalism: An era of change in traditional journalism
This review article investigates and reports on the preliminary findings of an initial research process on Digital Journalism. The available information is known and explored, from the definition of the basic concepts, characteristics, obstacles and opportunities to analyze how Digital Journalism has been developing in the national context. Also, a bibliographic review of different original articles as well as specialized magazines in communication that address and examine the main areas of scientific research on this topic from various approaches that allow a better understanding of the development of digital media in the last quarter century, the documentary exploration ends up confirming that digital journalism also known as cyberjournalism continues in an exponential progress that will continue to be the subject of scientific studies. Throughout the research we can see that digital journalism is a form of journalism that takes place in digital media, such as websites, blogs, social networks and mobile applications. According to some authors, digital journalism has several distinctive characteristics. First, digital journalism is characterized by immediacy and speed. Journalists can publish news in real time and constantly update it as the story develops. This allows information to reach the public quickly and to be kept up to date at all times. Second, digital journalism relies on interactivity and audience participation. Readers can comment, share and discuss news online, which creates a space for dialogue and citizen participation. In addition, journalists can use online surveys and forms to obtain the opinion and active participation of readers. Third, digital journalism is characterized by its ability to offer multimedia content. Journalists can include photos, videos, infographics and other visual elements in their news to enrich the reader's experience and convey information more effectively. Fourth, digital journalism relies on personalization and segmentation of content. Digital media can use algorithms and data analysis tools to deliver news and content tailored to the individual interests and preferences of each user. Finally, digital journalism is characterized by its accessibility and global reach. Through the Internet, news can reach people around the world in real time. This allows stories to be known internationally and to generate debates and discussions at a global level. In short, digital journalism is a form of journalism that takes place in digital media and is characterized by its immediacy, interactivity, multimedia content, personalization and global reach. This form of journalism has transformed the way information is produced and consumed, and has opened up new opportunities and challenges for journalists.
Copyright (c) 2023 Néstor Valbuena https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Organizational competencies of the ECU 911 Social Communicator in crisis situations
This research identifies and analyzes the competencies of the social communicators of SIS ECU 911 and how crisis communication was handled during the health emergency. Methodologically, the in-depth interview instrument was applied to members of ECU 911. The results show that the professionals who perform the strategic exercise of their function within centers such as SIS ECU 911 are communicators who have a holistic vision of interdisciplinary work in communication sciences, with a capacity for rapid response in terms of decision making; since this type of establishments by their organizational nature are in constant crisis and in turn have a multipurpose management of the different branches of communication.
Copyright (c) 2023 Arelys Córdova, Sandra Zhune, Fernanda Tusa https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Investigative journalism in Ecuador: analysis of digital security practices since 2017
Since 2017, cybercrimes against Ecuadorian journalists have increased, including the accounts of a journalist who left the country. The objective is to record the results of a qualitative work that analyzed the practices and training in digital security of investigative journalists through eight interviews. Knowledge is acquired through experience due to the lack of state measures. But the responsibility lies with the media and journalists.
Copyright (c) 2023 Daniela Salomé Saltos Ponce https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Academia and the fight against misinformation from an intercultural perspective. The OIME
This study addresses the global phenomenon of disinformation, which has captured the attention of various entities such as governments, international organizations, the media, civil organizations, and academia. Strategies to combat misinformation are highlighted, such as content curation and fact verification, these actions being carried out mainly from the educational field and the academy. Likewise, the importance of digital literacy is emphasized so that users can discern false information from the truth. As a result of the appearance of the COVID-19 pandemic, the case study of the Interuniversity Observatory of Ecuadorian Media (OIME) exemplifies the role of the Ecuadorian academy in responding to contaminated information from an intercultural perspective, through a model of social cooperation in contexts of crisis. Specifically, in a period from August 2020 to June 2022, the Observatory has produced 15 scientific dissemination notes, 4 graphic elements (interactive infographics and posters) and four informative notes. Continuing with this line, it is pertinent to understand disinformation as false, inaccurate or misleading content designed to cause public harm or private benefits, which has become a series of varied manifestations. However, there is evidence of a challenge in intercultural professional training in Ecuador, given the low percentage of teachers from minority populations in educational institutions. However, the growing interest in research on intercultural content production, political participation, citizen empowerment, among other aspects, stands out. In short, the lack of digital skills and multiliteracy is identified as one of the reasons that facilitates the spread of misinformation among people. Specifically from an educational and communication perspective, interculturality is considered a dialogue under construction between cultures to strengthen identities, recover historical memory and eliminate hierarchies in learning environments with the incorporation of active digital literacy.
Copyright (c) 2023 Álvaro Javier Pazmiño Tello, Daniela Salomé Saltos Ponce, Pamela J. Cruz Páez https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Innovation in journalistic investigative methods
Forbidden Stories is a project that aims to protect the information of journalists under threat, monitor their work and publish their investigations in case they are arrested (Reporters Without Borders). This is a dialogue with French journalist Audrey Travère who has worked on the project. Her testimony provides an opportunity to reflect on the concepts of innovation, investigative journalism and collaborative journalism. Forbidden Stories is not funded by advertising, but by donations, it is an NGO, a non-profit organization.
Copyright (c) 2023 Mercedes de Luis Andrés https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Today, when immediacy and brevity prevail in a digital world that impacts and erodes the profession, the transition from journalism to literature makes a huge difference. The identification of the theme and its narrative potential, the mastery of journalistic genres and the knowledge of the narrative resources to tell them from the chronicle, are determining factors. Everything starts within identifying the fact that later becomes a news, abiding by the golden rule: the news tells of an event, the chronicle makes a story of it. Our journey ¡News, chronicle… fiction!
Copyright (c) 2023 Esteban Michelena https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0