The Peruvian media landscape is diverse, even though, in the capital, Lima, the predominant editorial line is one of support for the authoritarian coalition that took power in December 2022. In recent years, some previously reliable media outlets have started publishing disinformation. Investigative journalism has developed on nonprofit news websites but is rare in commercial media. The tabloid Trome is Peru’s best-selling newspaper, while Radioprogramas is the leading radio news programme. Because of the political crisis, most Peruvians get their news from local media outlets (radio or online) or from TikTok or Facebook. TV channel viewership has fallen. At the same time, economic pressure has accelerated restructuring and cutbacks in the regional press, affecting coverage nationwide.

Since December 2022, Peru has faced sustained political instability that has strained public debate and conditions for reporting. Journalists and newsrooms report recurring obstacles to accessing official information, as well as harassment and attempts to denigrate their work, particularly when it comes to covering protests and security issues. Polarisation and a lack of security shape the public agenda and limit scrutiny, contributing to self-censorship, especially in regional outlets.

The 1992 Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and says it is an offence to suspend or close newspapers or prevent them from circulating freely. There is also a law on transparency and access to information, but it is often hard to enforce due to weak institutions, and conflicts of political and economic interests. In 2025, a reform of the Peruvian International Cooperation Agency (APCI) Law was enacted, expanding controls and requiring the registration of activities financed with cooperation funds. These measures risk having a chilling effect on independent journalism, especially on investigative projects supported by this type of funding.

In recent years, the economic sustainability of the media has deteriorated due to falling advertising revenues and audiences migrating to online platforms. Especially outside the capital, journalists work with no contracts or health benefits. Some privately owned media outlets have laid off employees. Nonprofit online media outlets have also cut staff. The number of freelancers has increased, especially in the field of photojournalism. This precariousness weakens coverage nationwide, editorial independence and investigative capacity, with a particular impact on regional media outlets. 

The public values the work of journalists, as they have played a key role, especially in recent years, in exposing corruption in politics and the judicial system. But the mainstream media has lost credibility since 2020 because of pseudo-scientific information disseminated during the pandemic, in a climate marked by polarisation and misinformation. At the same time, news consumption is shifting towards social media and streaming services, accelerating competition and amplifying the circulation of disinformation.

In recent years, the police have stepped up their use of excessive force against journalists during protests. In addition to physical and verbal assaults towards journalists, there have been reports of threats, obstructions to news coverage and restrictions to information access. While some mainstream media outlets have branded protesters as “terrorists,” there have also been cases of citizens attacking journalists from those outlets during demonstrations.  Although there is a state protection mechanism for journalists, questions remain about its efficiency and the need to strengthen resources and coordination.