Sergio Bolivar
(He/Him)
Latin America (LatAm), Peru
Covers:
atin American and Peruvian politics; democracy, governance, and institutional stability; strategic communication and political narratives; reputation, legitimacy, and trust; international relations an
Doesn't Cover:
I do not cover lifestyle, entertainment, sports, fashion, technology product reviews, or celebrity news. My focus remains on political analysis, strategic communication, and geopolitics.
Consultor en comunicación, reputación y gobernanza | PhD | Columnista y analista político | Autor de Del ronroneo al rugido | Opinión
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
My first published piece as a columnist came in March 2020 with Lampadia, titled *“La infodemia del coronavirus frente a la economía mundial – Vacunémonos.”* The article was born in the midst of the global pandemic's chaos—an era overwhelmed by fake news, political uncertainty, and rising polarizing narratives, especially in Peru. What began as an urgent need to bring clarity during the infodemic soon evolved into a deeper commitment to political and economic analysis. Since then, writing has become more than a profession—it’s been a platform to advocate for investment, market freedom, institutional resilience, and values that contribute to sustainable national growth.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, I did. I learned to use a typewriter in the last years of elementary school and during high school typing classes
How is social media changing news?
Social media has accelerated the news cycle, blurred the line between facts and opinions, and shifted power from editors to algorithms — for better or worse
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Tintin — his curiosity, courage, and commitment to uncovering the truth inspired me early on to see journalism as an adventure in service of justice
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Being a journalist means revealing the truth behind the noise, connecting facts with purpose, and giving voice to ideas that can transform a society
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
#AlternativeFacts — A surreal reminder that truth in news still matters.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Clear, concise and relevant to my focus—reputation, geopolitics, strategic communication, and Latin America
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I rely on online research, AI tools like SciSpace, and a variety of word processors across Mac and PC—Pages, Mellel, Word—to write, analyze, and refine my work.
What's your favorite social network?
LinkedIn — it’s the one place where I can share an article, spark a serious debate, and still get invited for coffee
Who do you wish followed you?
Editors and newsroom chiefs at top international outlets covering Latin America — I’d love to contribute from a regional perspective.
Why did you become a journalist?
To defend truth in times of distortion. I started writing to offer clarity where confusion reigned
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, I didn’t. My interest in writing started during university, where I discovered the power of opinion to shape public discourse
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
One of the stories I’m most proud of is "From Purring to Roaring", which became the title and conceptual backbone of my recently published book. It’s more than a column—it’s a call to action. Written in the midst of political chaos, disinformation, and institutional fatigue, it explores how silence, conformity, and resignation have eroded Peru’s democratic institutions and civic values.
The piece resonated widely because it posed a simple but powerful metaphor: the "purr" represents the passive acceptance of decline, while the "roar" symbolizes a strategic, ethical, and citizen-driven response to reclaim the public sphere. It bridged political analysis, institutional reputation, and strategic communication, and it helped frame the overarching thesis of my book: that silence is complicity, and voice—used with responsibility and rigor—is a form of national defense.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Stay curious, stay ethical, and never forget that facts are more powerful than noise. Journalism isn’t about echoing trends—it’s about making sense of them with courage and clarity.
When's the best time to pitch you?
I appreciate pitches sent early in the week, preferably Monday to Wednesday mornings. That allows me time to evaluate them calmly and plan follow-ups.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
The best pitch came from a former intelligence officer who said: ‘The enemy’s already inside—but no one’s talking about it.’ That inspired my column El enemigo ya cruzó la frontera, exposing how transnational crime exploits state weakness in Latin America
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
The worst pitches are those that confuse propaganda with journalism—trying to sell a narrative without facts. It’s exactly what I critique in my book
What's your favorite drink?
A Bloody Mary when the day starts with intensity, and a glass of red wine when it ends with reflection.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Probably in the countryside, enjoying the silence
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Beyond my own work, I’m a big fan of well-argued think tank papers and long-form journalism—anything that challenges ideas and deepens regional understanding.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That opinion writing is just noise. In fact, it's about clarifying truth through precision—cutting through confusion to help readers
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