After the 11 September 1973 coup d'état, Puelma was appointed cultural and press attaché in Washington D. C. (1973–1974) and Paris (1974–1976). Upon returning to Chile, she joined Televisión Nacional de Chile (TVN), a channel at which she was a commentator and, beginning in 1982, a morning news host. She later worked at University of Chile Television. In the written press she worked for the newspapers "La Tercera" – where she was a columnist and economic reporter – and "El Cronista". She also worked for Radio Agricultura, where she was part of the press committee, and for the Chilean Safety Association ("Asociación Chilena de Seguridad"; ACHS) as a communications consultant.