The inscription of Qhapaq Ñan on UNESCO’s World Heritage List: a comparative perspective from the daily press in six Latin American countries

Latin American newspapers largely misinformed the public about the complexities of inscribing Qhapaq Ñan, the Andean road system, on UNESCO’s World Heritage List (WHL) in 2014. A study analyzing 90 articles from six countries revealed that media coverage prioritized official and expert discourses over local community voices, often overlooking controversies or conducting independent investigations. This market-driven journalism approach emphasized monumentality and tourism commodification while sidelining technical conservation concerns and grassroots participation. The research highlights a global trend where heritage narratives are shaped more by authorized sources than diverse perspectives.

Losson, P. (2017). The inscription of Qhapaq Ñan on UNESCO’s World Heritage List: a comparative perspective from the daily press in six Latin American countries. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 23(6), 521–537. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2017.1287117