Mariana Belloso

Mariana Belloso is a Salvadoran journalist, editor, and media analyst with more than two decades of experience in economic reporting across print, radio, and digital platforms. She has led the economic sections of two of El Salvador’s leading newspapers Diario El Mundo and La Prensa Gráfica. She also served as general editor of Alharaca, an independent media outlet. Her expertise spans fiscal policy, finance, and international trade, and she has covered multilateral negotiations and global economic trends.

Mariana Belloso

In addition to her editorial work, Mariana has anchored radio programs and contributed as a political and economic analyst on various platforms. She is also the founder of a newsletter focused on Salvadoran current affairs. She has received both national and international recognition, including being named “Journalist of the Year” by the Association of Journalists of El Salvador. 

Forced into exile in the United States after facing digital surveillance and harassment for her critical reporting on government policies, Mariana now coordinates the Latin American Network for Journalism in Exile (Red Latinoamericana de Periodismo en el Exilio, RELPEX), a pioneering initiative of the Inter American Press Association (IAPA). Through RELPEX, she advocates for the rights and professional continuity of journalists displaced by authoritarian regimes and violence, building support systems and employment opportunities for media professionals in exile.

Mariana says that AFPP Fellowship was a transformative experience:

“It restored my confidence in myself and in my value as a journalist, and it allowed me to connect with colleagues who have gone through similar experiences of forced displacement. In today’s environment, programs like this are not just necessary, they are essential, so that our voices are not silenced, no matter where we are.”