Santo Domingo.- The director and co-founder of the digital newspaper De Último Minuto, Héctor Romero, asserted that those who bet on doing serious journalism face significant challenges to achieve economic profitability, due to high operating costs and the constant need for investment that the communications industry demands.
During an interview on the podcast Yokasta: The Voice of Success, Romero reflected on the financial reality of the media and maintained that the responsible practice of journalism is usually motivated more by vocation and social commitment than by the pursuit of large economic profits.
“Those who do journalism seriously do not survive or cannot get rich based on a media outlet”, he expressed when referring to the difficulties that journalistic projects face to maintain themselves and grow in an increasingly competitive environment.
The communicator explained that, although digital platforms have opened new revenue opportunities through advertising, content monetization, and commercial partnerships, a large portion of those resources must be permanently reinvested to strengthen technological infrastructure, expand work teams, and improve the quality of informative products.
Serious journalism
Romero pointed out that this reality is also observed in the major traditional media, many of which belong to business groups with investments in other economic sectors that allow them to sustain their journalistic operations in the long term.
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In his view, the media fulfill an essential role in the construction of public opinion and the strengthening of democracy, which is why he considers it necessary to continue betting on sustainable models that allow for guaranteeing their independence and continuity.
During the conversation, he also expressed concern about the low salaries that many journalists in the Dominican Republic still receive, despite the importance of the work they perform. In that sense, he maintained that the industry must move towards better conditions for communication professionals.
“Serious journalism is done out of passion,” he stated, highlighting that behind every piece of coverage, report, or investigation, there is an effort that often does not correspond to the compensation received by those who practice the profession.
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Romero concluded by pointing out that true success in the media should not be measured solely by financial income, but by the ability to build sustainable projects over time, generate an impact on the audience, and provide quality information to society. As he expressed, that has been one of the main lessons he has learned throughout more than two decades linked to the world of communication.
