Introduction: Independence as a New Digital Proposition in Newsrooms in South America

In the past decades, South America has seen a propagation of digital-native news organizations bringing innovation in journalism, serving new audiences, and approaching new issues. Many digital-native news organizations still struggle to set their reputation but, as they grow in numbers and strength, they are increasingly recognized for the quality of news produced. This chapter situates the emergence of digital-native news in South America, defined as news media emerging in the online environment without previous ties to legacy or traditional organizations. It also introduces some of the main concepts and issues discussed in the book as related to the high choice digital media environment, such as polarization and consensus building.