Wilo Prado: The journalist bridging traditional media and digital platforms in Ecuador
In a media landscape often split between the old and the new, Ecuadorian journalist Wilo Prado has built a career proving the two can—and must—coexist.
Prado began his path in communication under his birth name, Wilmer Prado, but soon became known professionally as Wilo Prado. While still a student at the Catholic University of Cuenca, his voice and presence landed him his first casting opportunity at local broadcaster Telecuenca. From there, he worked his way up from behind the cameras—editing, filming, even cleaning sets—before becoming a reporter and anchor.
Today, Prado anchors news programs for UnsionTV and serves as a correspondent for TC Televisión, two of Ecuador’s established networks. At the same time, he is building a strong presence on social media, especially TikTok, where audiences of all ages—from children to his 87-year-old grandmother—follow his updates.
For Prado, television remains the backbone of journalism. “Traditional media gave me credibility”, he says. But he is equally aware that audiences have migrated online. His approach has been to merge the two worlds: producing stories with the rigor of broadcast journalism and then adapting them for digital platforms.
That philosophy shaped the creation of Wilo Prado Estudio, his Cuenca-based company. The studio specializes in digital content and audiovisual production for companies and commercial brands, while also providing space for creators to record podcasts, film shows, or simply share their stories. Prado often emphasizes that victims of violence or injustice—rather than lawyers or spokespeople—are the ones invited to speak directly in his studio. “What better than the source itself telling their story?” he explains.
Prado’s dual role as journalist and entrepreneur is grounded in academic research. He recently completed a Master’s degree, producing both his personal brand and the studio as part of his final deliverables. His work included a scientific article on TikTok, digital journalism, and its impact on news consumption in Cuenca, published in Revista Pacha.
What sets Prado apart in a crowded digital space is his insistence on accuracy. “I don’t publish a story unless I’m 100% sure of it”, he says, even if that means posting days after others. His followers often comment: We were waiting for you, because we believe you. For Prado, that trust is the greatest achievement.
As he tells younger creators: “Don’t think about millions of followers or fame. Think about your focus. What do you want to achieve? For me, it’s making sure people who watch my content believe me”.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
