Ten Years of Chicharrón de Prensa

Abstract

The article reflects on the experience of Chicharrón de prensa, a program launched in 2015 that embraced an unconventional format: informal, unscripted political conversations streamed live with minimal technical setup. Relying on a basic camera and a conversational tone, the show prioritized authenticity. Its horizontal, around-the-table feel helped cultivate an active community that not only engaged with the discussions but also corrected and shaped them in real time. The article also explores how livestreaming—accelerated by the pandemic—has become a central space for political debate. Platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok now host a wide range of shows that blend rigorous analysis with plainspoken commentary and real-time interaction. These formats help democratize public discourse by giving ordinary citizens, experts, and politicians a shared, unfiltered arena, while audiences weigh in and influence the conversation through live chats. Despite ongoing challenges such as superficiality and bias, livestreaming increasingly rivals traditional media, reshaping how public opinion forms and amplifying voices that were previously sidelined. Its impact today is unmistakable: political agendas often emerge from digital spaces, and the immediacy and freshness of these formats are setting new standards for communication in the country.