Journalists from Tarija reinvent themselves to survive in a region with a high unemployment rate

In the last three years, there have been digital ventures as an alternative to generate income due to the lack of job opportunities in television, radio and printed newspapers due to the economic crisis.

“The work part is precarious and there is not much to celebrate on this day, considering the situation that the sector is going through. Many of us work for self-employed and perhaps begging for advertising of a public entity because the private sector is difficult,” said Freddy Rivera.

In his opinion, it is necessary to strengthen the union to make the voices of journalists heard, demanding the support of national and departmental authorities.

Epifanio Ovando, a journalist with extensive experience, agrees with Rivera, saying that despite the increase in journalistic endeavors, mainly digital, the labor issue remains precarious.

“We are concerned and this May 10 should serve as an example to draw the attention of local, departmental and national authorities so that give us opportunities to embrace our rights on this issue and other areas,” said Ovando.

The executive secretary of the Cercado Press Workers Union, Horacio Rivero, asserted that the sector is going through job insecurity that until now has not been able to provide long-term social security.

In his opinion, it is necessary to reflect on the challenges that the sector faces so that this right and others are achieved over time.

“We hope that the authorities of the different levels of State can contribute with public policies for the benefit of the sector”, Rivero emphasized, remembering this Friday the Bolivian Journalist’s Day.

On this day, those who were remembered were the subnational entities, such as the Government, Mayor’s Office and Municipal Council that organized entertainment for the journalists of Tarija, in comparison to the private sector.