Media ecology and coevolution: digital transition in peripheral contexts

Abstract

This article analyzes the transition from print media to the digital ecosystem in Popayán, Colombia, under the conceptual category of peripheral contexts. This research is justified by the need to document media transformation processes in regions with particular structural characteristics, such as dependence on official guidelines and the influence of conflict environments—factors that condition the survival of information. The central objective is to examine the adaptation and evolution strategies of two media models with distinct natures: a traditional commercial newspaper El Liberal, and the Comarca University Journalism media lab at Universidad del Cauca (University). Methodologically, a qualitative, descriptive design was chosen, based on a review of historical archives and in-depth interviews with professionals who led the technological change processes. The main finding reveals a divergence in the capacity to respond to the crisis. While the traditional media outlet had rudimentary digitization that led to a financial and operational sustainability crisis, the university model achieved a more efficient transition through narrative experimentation and institutional support. In light of these findings, this study concluded that media co-evolution in the periphery demands a profound cultural transformation of newsrooms and the strengthening of strategic alliances to prevent the consolidation of information deserts. This research provides a complex perspective on technological appropriation in regional contexts and highlights the relevance of institutional memory combined with creative innovation.