Original article: Mónica González y el rol del periodismo: “Lo único que hay que buscar es hacer visible lo invisible”
Mónica González: “Journalism Must Seek Truths”
National Journalism Award winner reflects on ethics, memory, trust-building, and collective work
The relevance of journalism as a tool for truth and justice is evident in the career of Mónica González Mujica, a journalist trained at the University of Chile and the National Journalism Award winner of 2019. In an interview conducted by Alumni Communications at UCHILE and published by UChile.CL, the founder and former director of Ciper discusses the foundational pillars of her profession: rigor, collective work, and commitment to the nation. “Journalism must seek truths, help people understand what is happening, and identify those who deceive, kill, mock, and abuse,” explains González, emphasizing the significance of investigative work as a civic service.
“I have such a wonderful generation; we still meet today. We share complicities, fears, and lessons… We know we had a privilege, we were educated by the best,” she recalls of her time at the Journalism School at the University of Chile, which she entered in 1967. Under the mentorship of figures like Mario Planet, she learned a principle she still repeats: what matters is “not the linear, but connecting the dots.” This lesson, coupled with the rigor of factual accuracy, would shape decades of her work in media such as Cauce, Análisis, and La Nación, leading to the creation of Ciper.
Steering away from sensationalism, González rejects the notion of the “newsworthy scoop” and warns about the dangers of ego in contemporary journalism. “In trying to make a splash, you first become infected with ego and can make very serious mistakes,” she states. In her narrative, the profession is woven like a tapestry: “I feel like a cartographer when I create maps of corruption… you weave trust, truths, timelines, characters, and money.”
A proud product of public education, the journalist also highlights historical memory and the value of empathy. “Truth is made with everyone,” she asserts, stressing the need to cultivate critical citizenship: “We need to educate ourselves in plurality, understanding, and comprehension, but above all in the ethics of truth and rigor.” Her message to younger generations is clear: “Ethics is not a theoretical subject; it’s a daily exercise from morning to night.”
Communications Alumni UCHILE shares this testimony as part of the legacy of those who, from Casa de Bello, have transformed journalism into a tool for justice. “The rigor of the factual truth sought, investigated, found, and shared. No one will ever take that imprint away from me,” concludes González, reaffirming the critical and public ethos of her alma mater.
Watch the full interview at the following link on UChile.CL
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