La « Société des rédacteurs » du Mercurio Peruano (1790-1795) ou les premiers pas du journalisme « professionnel »

Abstract

The Sociedad Académica of Lima, relying on a structure type « Economic Society of Friends of the Country », set up a very efficient organization to establish (writing, printing and administration) its press institution, the bi-weekly Mercurio Peruano. The editorial of this newspaper is of most interest, from the choice of the topics and the way they are distributed between the members to their control by « heads of department » and their analysis within real « editorial boards ». Besides the necessity of a hierarchical structure of the company, this innovative system also leads to a high number of authors, contrary to the system which was then existing (only one author or tandem, and sole authority). These enlightened amateurs were the precursors who opened the way to the contemporary professional journalism.

Keywords

• Mercurio Peruano (1790-1795)
• journalistic practices
• Enlightenment
• Latin America
• Colonial periodical press