In a video address to the 2007 World Editors Forum in Cape Town, Llosa said journalism was facing difficult challenges, which some have attempted to conquer by “banalization or frivolization of journalism”. He said people looking for entertainment rather than “true information” had caused some degradation of journalism. He said this was “very dangerous” and that a transformation of journalism into entertainment would abdicate what has been its most important function. 

Good journalism, according to Llosa, “conveys an objective vision of what is going on in the world.” He said the best way to overcome bad journalism was to do what good newspapers, radio and television have been doing: “Telling the truth and trying to convey good information.”

Llosa said that the challenges for journalists were “enormous” and that adaptation was not easy. But he also acknowledged that the idea of ancient journalism had been romanticized and that nostalgic views about the good quality of past journalism were based on a “romantic prejudice”.

Llosa said that writing was “difficult”, but “exciting”. Using his experience as both a novelist and a journalist, he said: “Although it‘s very different to write a novel or a play than a journalistic piece, in certain cases you can match both things.” 

Llosa said the main difference between the two mediums was the greater freedom in writing a novel because “you are limited by the real world” when you write journalism.

Llosa said he was optimistic about the future of journalism and that he would be happy for his granddaughter to become a journalist, provided she was a good one. 

By Kim Hawkey, Wits University Journalism