Bridging the Divide between the Press and Civic Society Civic Media Advocacy as “Media Movement” in Latin America

Abstract

The gap between the press and civic society has been a paramount concern for media research on Latin America. Press systems in the region have been historically dominated by states and markets. During the past decades, two “media movements” have emerged to strengthen the linkages between the press and civic society: one set of efforts have promoted reforms in media policies, and the other one developed alternative media independently from governments and markets. This chapter examines the rise of “civic media advocacy” as a third “media movement” in the region. Civic media advocacy aims to change news coverage of civic and social problems in the mainstream press. The analysis examines its strategies and political underpinnings and discusses its achievements and limitations. The experience of civic media advocacy in contemporary Latin America offers insights into whether and how civic society can effectively transform journalism