Between Support and Confrontation: Civic Society, Media Reform, and Populism in Latin America

Abstract

This article calls for a critical examination of the media politics of civic society in new democracies. The analysis discusses the media policies of populist administrations and the role of civic groups in contemporary Latin America. The analysis shows the complex relations between civic actors and governments in processes of media reform. Contra visions that approach civic society as an autonomous space of resistance, these cases call for a nuanced analysis of the politics of coalition-building between civic actors and governments.More than a common project of media reform, civil society emerges as a heterogeneous space for the articulation of different political priorities and ideologies. The theoretical and research implications for further global media research are discussed in the conclusions.

Cultura(s) Periodística(s) Iberoamericana(s) La diversidad de un periodismo propio

“…La estrategia comunicacional puesta en marcha por varios de los gobiernos de izquierda en América Latina busca socavar, o al menos debilitar, los oligopolios informativos que históricamente han detentado los medios comerciales privados (Hughes y Lawson, 2005;Mauersberger, 2011), los cuales han ejercido una influencia política preponderante (Alvear y Lugo-Ocando, 2016;Lugo, 2008;Mastrini y Becerra, 2006;Waisbord, 2011). La misma se basa en la reasignación del espectro radial, un mayor control sobre la distribución de la publicidad oficial y la promulgación de un nuevo marco jurídico para los medios de comunicaciónen general y para la radio y televisión en particular.…”

Through eurocentric logics

“…The media have provided a critical battle ground for the rival camps, with private media tending to be anti-governmental and state media tending to be pro-Chávez (Duno Gottberg 2004;Waisbord 2011). Chávez's media policy has been characterized by attempts to combat oppositional media sources by exerting greater control over airwaves (Waisbord 2011) while increasing the supply of community media (Fernandes 2011).…”

“…Chávez's media policy has been characterized by attempts to combat oppositional media sources by exerting greater control over airwaves (Waisbord 2011) while increasing the supply of community media (Fernandes 2011). Furthermore, the opposition appears to be in an advantageous position compared to the government in foreign reporting representations of Venezuela, evidenced by constructions of the opposition as bringing national unity while the government is presented as authoritarian and polarizing (Abalo 2012(Abalo , 2014Salter and Weltman 2011).…”

Hugo Chavez's Polarizing Legacy: Chavismo, Media, and Public Opinion in Argentina's Domestic Politics

“…During the last decade, several mostly leftist Latin American governments have tried to introduce reforms to their countries' media systems (Kitzberger 2009(Kitzberger , 2010bWaisbord 2011). Numerous factors explain these initiatives: first, the media play a key political role in most Latin American democracies (Ruiz 2010); second, the tight ideological makeup of most media organizations, mostly dominated by conservatives (O'Schaughnessy 2007; Becerra and Mastrini 2009); and finally, the sometimes openly subversive role conservative media has played in supporting the removal of democratic governments (Cannon 2004).…”