SECOM has hired Jaime Bayly and Gisella Bayona in TC Television to prop up the electoral campaign

Costly hiring would be part of a communication strategy to favor candidates from the right

JOURNALISTS

For electoral political purposes, the Presidency’s Communication Secretariat once again reaches out to the public and seized media.

Two expensive contracts were arranged by SECOM on TC Televisión to generate opinion spaces and interviews, with a view to the presidential elections of February 2021.

Jaime Bayly, a renowned Peruvian journalist and writer living in Miami, characterized by his sympathy with right-wing governments, will premiere a weekly program of political analysis, under the government’s editorial line.

TC Televisión began promoting this space and made adjustments to the set, scenography and technical and logistical aspects.

Although the amount of Bayly’s hiring has not been disclosed, sources in the media indicate that it would be at least USD 10,000 for each program. It is unknown whether these resources will be covered by TC Televisión or by SECOM.

In previous experiences, in 2011 the communicator received, according to his own revelations, USD 80,000 for the realization of five programs against the candidate for the presidency of Peru, Ollanta Humala, on the América Televisión channel.

Bayly has been characterized by his critical line against progressive leaders and governments, and his condescension and affinity with the right.

During the October strike in Ecuador, in rejection of the elimination of the fuel subsidy, he criticized the indigenous movement.

“I don’t know how it hurts them. If they are truly indigenous and live in caves, forests, I don’t think they drive an Audi or use public transportation, ”he said.

The second hiring is that of the journalist and former presenter of Teleamazonas, Gisella Bayona, who will join the morning newscast on September 14 and will be in charge of the interviews.

For her incorporation, former presenter Diana Jácome was disbanded «due to political decisions,» sources from SECOM revealed.

Bayona maintains a close relationship with the Minister of Telecommunications and former Secretary of Communication, Andrés Michelena, who would be the political link for joining TC Televisión.

The guests for the interviews and the focus of the reports will be coordinated with SECOM, according to Executive sources.

Within the media there is discomfort over these hiring because it will demand large resources, which would cause short-term layoffs.

On June 24, the SECOM appointed Juan Manuel Gutiérrez as general manager of TC Televisión, who previously served as Gamavisión’s liquidator.

In that television channel, also seized, he carried out a drastic staff cut program. The company currently has just 73 employees in all areas such as news, sports, production and administration.