Journalism ‘fixers’, hyper-precarity and the violence of the entrepreneurial self

The figure of the so-called journalism ‘fixer’ has received overdue academic attention in recent years. Scholars have highlighted role played by fixers international news reporting, a historically obscured mythos Western foreign correspondent. Recent research produced useful insights about work done ‘the shadows’ economy. However, it also tended towards domestication role, where local finds their place collaborative relationship with those officially consecrated as ‘journalists’ from elsewhere. This article presents critical theoretical analysis this functional building on image fixer kind ‘entrepreneur’. Rather than interpreting latter designation source empowerment or agency, we approach euphemism for hyper-precarious and exploitative underpinnings fixer-labour. Our argument draws different sources, including Foucault-inspired entrepreneurial rationality neoliberal self, Bourdieu’s notion symbolic violence, Rancière’s concept politics. is supported first author’s reflections working Pakistani-based during U.S-led war terror.