Beyond Borders: A Conversation with Clara Preve on Journalism, Humanity, and the Pursuit of Truth

Image credit: Reuters

For many, journalism exists in headlines: breaking news notifications, press conferences, and striking photographs from conflicts unfolding thousands of kilometres away. However, what often goes unseen are the people at the center of those stories. Yet, to Argentine journalist Clara Preve Durrieu, journalism has always begun with those same people. 

Born in Buenos Aires, Prevé spent part of her childhood in Texas before returning to Argentina. She later earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Communications from Universidad Austral, where she was the president of the university’s Journalism Club. Today, she reports from Buenos Aires for the Associated Press and investigative journalism outlet Project Brazen, covering global affairs, including the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. In an interview with The Tartan Times, Prevé generously shared her experiences and perspectives, offering insight into both the journalistic and social dimensions of her career.

Despite reporting from some of the world’s most dangerous regions, Preve believes that journalism is not defined by the flashy wars it covers, but by the people whose lives those wars transform. That perspective was formed long before she ever stepped into a warzone. While still at university, Preve travelled to India during a school holiday, where she met a young girl battling depression, and seeking help in India. Just days later, she learned the girl had been found dead. Local authorities quickly ruled the case as a suicide, despite clear evidence that suggested otherwise. Refusing to accept the police’s narrative, Preve started asking questions. 

Those questions led to an investigation, which then became her first major piece of investigative journalism, earning her widespread recognition and opening the door to her professional career. Most importantly, it reinforced a value that would define her work for years to come: journalism wasn't simply about reporting what happened, but asking the difficult questions and giving a voice to those who don't have the chance to tell their own stories. 

That same philosophy would later accompany her to Ukraine, where she encountered a different kind of tragedy. Nevertheless, when asked about the most shocking experience of her career, Preve did not speak about explosions, military operations, murders or mass destruction. Instead, she spoke about humanity. “War brings out the best in humanity” Preve reflected, describing soldiers who volunteered to help, strangers who welcomed her into their home, and civilians who shared what little food they had, and countless acts of kindness that pursued despite the uncertainty and fear surrounding them. 

Among the places that left the deepest impression on her was Kupiansk, a city on Ukraine’s western frontline. Despite constant attacks and the omnipresent danger, many residents choose to stay- not because they believed the war would end soon, but because it was their home. Their resilience, she explained, completely changed the way she viewed global conflict. 

Beyond the stories Preve reported, her experiences abroad also shifted her mindset. Looking back on her 17-year-old self, she admits she had once underestimated just how different people’s lives and cultures could be. Growing up in Argentina, so separated from the rest of the world, many of those realities felt distant- until her job placed her in the middle of them. 

Travelling across the world and reporting from countries shaped by conflict challenged assumptions she didn't even realize she held. Every assignment became an opportunity to understand another perspective, immerse herself into another culture, and another way of life. 

“Keep an open mind,” she advised. “There are realities completely different from your own.”

For Preve, curiosity extends far beyond journalism. It became a way of understanding the world, leaving her comfort zone, travelling, and, most importantly, engaging with people whose experiences differ from their own. Only then, she believes, is where cultural, racial or religious stereotypes began to disappear and genuine appreciation of societies started. 

As someone who has witnessed major world events firsthand, the young journalist understands how easily information can become distorted once it reaches the wrong hands, and, mainly, once it reaches people’s screens. In an era dominated by social media and artificial intelligence, she believes the necessity to critically question what we consume has never been greater. 

With information available at our fingertips, distinguishing facts from fiction has become increasingly more difficult. However, Preve encouraged young people to rely solely on established and accountable news organizations, while still remaining curious enough to question what they read. Rather than accepting information blindly, she believes readers of all ages should seek multiple perspectives, verify sources, and resist the urge to share unconfirmed claims. Yet, for Preve, this issue extends beyond misinformation; an increasingly polarized media landscape, where many news outlets have become closely aligned with political ideologies has made objectivity difficult to sustain. Investigative journalism, she argued, should be driven by evidence rather than ideology and politics, allowing facts -not opinions- to shape the narrative. 

Having seen both the realities of global conflicts and the way they are portrayed to the public,  Preve believes one of the most valuable skills young people can develop is curiosity and critical thinking. Not simply curiosity to consume information, but to use critical thinking to question it, challenge it and crave understanding the stories behind it. She encouraged students to explore diverse interests without feeling the societal pressure to have their futures planned at 17. Specifically, for aspiring journalists, she emphasized the importance of stepping outside their comfort zones, understanding history, learning new languages and engaging with people from different backgrounds. 

In a world where headlines are consumed within seconds and information travels faster than ever before, Clara Preve’s story is a reminder that journalism is about far more than reporting events. It is about listening before speaking, questioning before accepting, and searching for the “why” before the “what”.

Perhaps, that is the important message she leaves behind, not only for aspiring journalists, but for anyone hoping to better understand the world around them. Beyond every conflict, every statistic, and every breaking news headline are real people, with stories worth telling.