Stifling Dissent: the fallout from a Mexican media invasion of Central America

Rockwell, Rick; Janus, Noreene

doi:10.1080/14616700120086396

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…There is broad consensus in the literature that improving the quality of democracy requires media organisations that can effectively monitor ruling political and economic powers (Blankson and Murphy 2012;Fox and Waisbord 2002;Rockwell and Janus 2001). When the advancing of business interests overshadows the public interest, and when the expectations of the powerful are deemed more important than the needs of citizens, the media are hardly a model of democratic virtue (Fox and Waisbord 2002).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When the advancing of business interests overshadows the public interest, and when the expectations of the powerful are deemed more important than the needs of citizens, the media are hardly a model of democratic virtue (Fox and Waisbord 2002). In Central America, the fact that some administrations have resorted to authoritarian means to suppress dissent and criticism adds more reason to worry about the prospects of bringing about an independent media (Rockwell and Janus 2001).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Guatemala, a broadcasting monopoly started with the acquisition of a television network in 1981 by a Mexican investor. During the 1990s, the Mexican mogul, following the scheme developed in Mexico of catering the political class, acquired all major television channels and a significant slice of the radio spectrum in Guatemala (Rockwell and Janus 2001). Since then, the commercial television monopoly in Guatemala has not only purged voices critical of the central government but also used to attack media outlets not aligned with government policies (Rockwell 2007).…”

Section: The Evolution Of the Media In Latin Americamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The television monopoly and oppressing tactics developed during a brutal civil war fought between the Guatemalan government and leftist rebel groups created a culture of silence -a culture that prevented journalism in Guatemala from "criticizing the government, the army, or even some of the country's leading businessmen" (Rockwell and Janus 2001, p. 497). Through the early 2000s, the television monopoly in Guatemala acted as a force that undermined the fundamental democratic concept of allowing journalists and others in society to counter government action through critical ideas offered through free and open discussion (Rockwell and Janus 2001).…”

Section: The Evolution Of the Media In Latin Americamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Latin America, numerous governments have forged mutually beneficial relationships with national media companies that paved the way for the development of strong media monopolies (Fox and Waisbord 2002). In Central America, monopolistic television industries have not only remained absent from debate on government policy but also engaged in actions to crush views against state institutions or business elites (Rockwell and Janus 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rescuing the Media in Emerging Democracies through ICT

Ortiz¹

2018

Australasian Conference on Information Systems 2018

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Several studies have shown the efficiency and pitfalls of ICT for mediating collective communication during political upheavals. However, little literature exists on understanding how the diversity of content generated through ICT empowers a free press when traditional media channels fail to expose the truth and promote public debate. This research aims to broaden our understanding of how ICT facilitate the exposure and interpretation of conditions in government institutions that go against public moralities-interpretations with the potential to mobilise thousands of individuals to protest. We engaged in an in-depth qualitative research using data from the Twittersphere. We conducted our study in the context of a Guatemalan tragedy in which 41 girls living in a state care home lost their lives. Our contribution to the literature is the understanding of how ICT enables the collective construction of meaning powerful enough to mobilise thousands of individuals in protest.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Evolution Of the Media In Latin Americamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Evolution Of the Media In Latin Americamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Rescuing the Media in Emerging Democracies through ICT

Ortiz¹

2018

Australasian Conference on Information Systems 2018

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Central America: Media Systems

Priess¹

2008

The International Encyclopedia of Communication

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Geographically, Central America includes parts of Mexico (→ Mexico: Media System), i.e., the southern part of the Tehuantepec Isthmus, but traditionally it is composed of the countries of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. With the exception of Belize, which is a small country with about 300,000 inhabitants that did not gain its independence from Great Britain until 1981, all were Spanish colonies. The current Panamanian territory was part of Colombia until 1913. All of these countries gained their independence between 1821 and 1859. Of 43 million Central Americans, 13 million live in Guatemala. The geographic position of Panama and the political stability of Costa Rica have allowed both of these countries to develop economically, but the rest of the countries in the region display extreme poverty, particularly evident in areas inhabited by indigenous groups. After several decades of internal turmoil, civil war, and dictatorships, Central America has recovered its essence. Since the 1980s, it has recovered its peace. Even though democracy and competitive elections are now a fact within the isthmus, the influence of remote times still prevails.

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Breaking the culture of silence: An analysis of traditional media versus alternative media coverage of a social tragedy in Guatemala

Ortiz

2024

E J Info Sys Dev Countries

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The media are core to the successful functioning of democracy. They are responsible for scrutinizing state institutions. The media, thus, must remain independent of political control and power elites seeking to shape public consciousness. Nonetheless, historical precedents of political censorship and the high concentration of media ownership in Latin America have prevented the media from exercising its accountability duties. Information and communication technology (ICT) has recently enabled alternative media outlets to increase their reach in recent years. In contrast to traditional media, alternative media seek to challenge the status quo and engage in causes of social or political change. By analyzing traditional and alternative media coverage of a social tragedy in Guatemala, this study contributes to the ICT for development literature by showing how alternative media can leverage ICT to create accountability through frame diversification. The concept of frame diversification advanced in this study recognizes the possibilities enabled by ICT for disseminating views that break from the “culture of silence” that has historically permeated the media in Latin American countries like Guatemala.

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Stifling Dissent: the fallout from a Mexican media invasion of Central America

Cited by 5 publications

References 4 publications

Rescuing the Media in Emerging Democracies through ICT

Rescuing the Media in Emerging Democracies through ICT

Central America: Media Systems

Breaking the culture of silence: An analysis of traditional media versus alternative media coverage of a social tragedy in Guatemala

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