Journalism in Crisis or in Times of Crisis? Rethinking News Coverage of COVID-19 in Colombia

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/disertaciones/a.15432

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Published: Jan 7, 2026
Issue: Vol. 19 No. 1 (2026): La comunicación como fundamento de la transparencia en los museos
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Keywords: Journalism news media COVID-19 sources of information

Main Article Content

Authors

Miguel Garcés-Prettel
Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar
  Claudia Mellado
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso
  Alfonso Dager de los Ríos
Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar
  Yessica Blanco-Torres
Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar
  María Caballero Dávila
Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar
  Leonardo Domínguez Márquez
Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic put journalism to the test, reaffirming both its importance and its limitations in times of crisis. This study examines news coverage in Colombia during the first year of the health emergency. It analyzes the predominant news formats, thematic focus, source usage, and variations across media outlets, and tests two hypotheses related to these aspects. Based on more than 5,000 news stories, patterns were identified that reflect editorial dynamics in a context where access to verified information was essential. The findings reveal that televisión produced the largest volume of news, followed by radio, with a predominance of short reports and general articles. A comparative analysis showed consistent differences in source diversity and thematic emphasis across media types, confirming the hypotheses formulated. Coverage displayed a strong reliance on government sources and limited use of expert voices, reducing diversity and analytical depth. Rather than broadening public debate, the media reproduced institutional narratives, downplaying other dimensions of COVID-19’s social and health impact. The evidence calls for rethinking of how the media should respond to future crises, through journalism that not only reports the facts but also analyzes them with the rigor demanded by society.

How to Cite
Garcés-Prettel, M., Mellado, C., Dager de los Ríos, A., Blanco-Torres, Y., Caballero Dávila, M., & Domínguez Márquez, L. (2026). Journalism in Crisis or in Times of Crisis? Rethinking News Coverage of COVID-19 in Colombia. Anuario Electrónico De Estudios En Comunicación Social "Disertaciones", 19(1). https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/disertaciones/a.15432
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