The Relevance of Professional Journalism in the Algorithm Era

Abstract

This essay reflects on the transformation of journalism in the digital age, marked by the rise of algorithms, fragmented audiences, and the spread of disinformation. Drawing on his personal and family experience at El Comercio, Juan Aurelio Arévalo defends the enduring importance of professional journalism as a guarantor of rigor, service, and truthfulness. Through a narrative that interweaves institutional history, technological evolution, and contemporary challenges, the author highlights the journalist’s role as an ethical and critical mediator in an information-saturated environment. The text underscores the need for media outlets to adapt to new platforms without losing their essence, to promote transparency in journalistic practice, and to strengthen sustainable business models that ensure editorial independence. In times of polarization and confirmation-driven news consumption, journalism must redouble its commitment to truth, the oversight of power, and the cultivation of an informed citizenry.