Implications of Converging Media and Government : A qualitative study of the relationship between traditional news media and government in Mexico, as perceived by a group of Mexican students
Abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate a group of Mexican university students’ perception of the country’s traditional news media and their relationship to the Mexican government with the objective of elaborating on and discussing how the respondents’ perception can be understood in terms of individual and social implications. The research is based on eight empirical interviews with Mexican university students enrolled at private and public universities in Mexico City at the time of the data collection taking place in late spring of 2015. Bourdieu’s notion of habitus and cultural capital, the attitude concept as recognized within the field of social psychology, the digital divide, normative theory and political- economic theory together form the key concepts and theoretical framework on which this study is based. This study shows that the respondents’ perception of the relationship between traditional news media and government in Mexico is characterized by distrust in both institutions’ legitimacy due to rightful allegations of collusion. Traditional news media are disregarded among the respondents who prefer alternative, online news sources, a news behavior arguably facilitated by the skills provided for by cultural capital and new media access granted to the respondents. The Mexican media and government convergence ultimately has far-reaching democratic implications as normative expectations on media to serve the wider public interest and check on power are largely discarded in favor of pursuing economic interests. Compromised journalism most affect those with limited access to alternatives, aggravating inequalities. The respondents’ negative perception of the traditional news media and government relationship has, however, also positive implications as the respondents’ awareness in combination with the democratic incentives offered by new media make the them possible agents for change.
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