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Mexican Lournalism and Democratic Transition: Clientelism in the Mexican Media System

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Mexican Lournalism and Democratic Transition: Clientelism in the Mexican Media System Mexican lournalism and Democratic Transition: Clientelism in the Mexican media system Monica Alejandra Peria Corona Rodriguez Thesis submitted for the title of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield Department of Journalism October 2009 Abstract The defeat of the longstanding PRI party in the presidential elections of year 2000 has been acknowledged as a milestone in the democratisation of Mexico. Nevertheless, for over 40 years, many authors have suggested that Mexico has been undergoing a democratic transition. These repeated assertions highlight just how difficult it is to define a democratic transition or when or how such a process begins or ends. Media theorists have been intrigued as to what changes a media system goes through when experiencing a democratic transition, as new political arrangements have an impact on the dynamics of journalism and newsmaking. This study aimed to examine to what extent the close relationship that the media and the government traditionally held during the PRI regime had changed as a product of political transformations. This research adopted the concept of political clientelism of a media system as a theoretical framework, in order to identify aspects in which the Mexican media system had altered from how it occurred in the past. The study relied on the use of two types of qualitative research methodologies, interviews with Mexican journalists, as well as content analysis of newspaper articles. Through the examination of the ways in which Mexican journalists carry out their work as well as their role perceptions in regards to democracy on the one hand, and on the other through the evaluation of how coverage has differed over time, this thesis aims to contribute to the understanding of the way in which media systems in transition are studied. It argues that changes in media systems should be studied in relation to more routine journalistic practices, rather than on the assumption that changes in politics or on the apparent finance of the media unequivocally transform journalistic culture towards democratisation. Acknowledgements This research was done thanks to the financial support of the Consejo Nacional para la Ciencia y la Tecnologia, CONACYT. Many thanks to all the other people and organisations that facilitated and assisted me through this study, those at the University of Leicester, the University of Sheffield, SEP, SEGOB, ITESM, UNAM and all the journalists who shared with me their opinions and experiences. I am particularly grateful to my supervisor, Prof. Ralph Negrine, who has been constantly helpful, patient and encouraging, and who has provided extensive feedback at every stage of the process of writing this thesis. I was so lucky to have such an experienced, friendly and understanding mentor, whose advice and guideance has gone beyond the realms of this PhD. The comments of Dr. Tristram Hooley, Dr. Kevin Byron and Dr. Uriel Caballero, who took the time to read earlier versions of this thesis, are also kindly appreciated. I also appreciate the constant and thorough support of Dr. Joan Smith, who has been a great influence throught the final stages of this journey. My endless gratitude goes to my parents, Marco Antonio and Carmen, for all their unconditional love and support. To my brother Marco Antonio and my sister Veronica, , as to the rest of the family, my aunts, uncles and cousins. To Vero, Alevu and Marquito. And my dear friend Nancy. I love and miss you all every day. Thanks as well to Mary, Alan, Kate, Sarah, Matt, Joni, Sophie and Phoebe for welcoming me into their family. To my husband, Mark, for sharing this journey with me, and putting up with it all. List of Contents Abstract Acknowledgements .................................................................... List of contents.... ........ ...... ...... ...... ... ............ ........ .......... ........ .... ii List of figures............................. ............... ........................... ...... iv List of tables.. .. .. .. .. .. iv Introduction .............................................................................. 1 Chapter 1 Literature Review ............................................................ '" ........ 8 Chapter 2 Mexican Politics and Mass Media ............................................ 36 Chapter 3 A na IYSls . 0 fit'n ervlews 1 : meth odology .......................................... 69 Chapter 4 Anlaysis of Interviews 2: journalists in Mexico. experience. roles and careers ..................................................................................... 85 Chapter 5 111 Analysis of Interviews 3: working within the realms of the red circle ........ Chapter 6 Analysis of Interviews 4: redefining journalism or political patrons? ....................... " . 146 11 Chapter 7 Content Analysis. part 1: 1968....................................................... 175 Chapter 8 Content Analysis. part 2: 2004 ...................................................... 216 Chapter 9 Concluding remarks ................................................................... 249 Appendix 1 General information on Mexico and Mexican politics ......................... 260 Appendix 2 Brief history of Mexican mass media and ownership........................... 265 Appendix 3 Respondents matrix................................................................ 275 Appendix 4 Interview questionnaire................................................................ 276 Appendix 5 Content analysis coding schedules ............................. ··················· 279 References 288 iii List of Figures Figure 7.1 Words used to describe government's actions, 1968.............................. 200 Figure 7.2 Position of newspaper articles in regards to demonstration, 1968.............. 202 Figure 7.3 Position of newspaper articles, September 1968.............................. ...... 203 Figure 7.4 Position of newspaper articles, October 1968....................................... 205 Figure 8.1 Who is said to endorse the demonstration? June 2004........................... 222 Figure 8.2 Who is said to endorse the demonstration? July 2004............... ... .......... 223 List of Tables Table 4.1 Education of Mexican journalists..................... ............................... 86 Table 4.2 Universities where journalists did undergraduate studies..................... 87 Table 4.3 Years of work experience.. .. .. .. 87 Table 4.4 Newspapers where journalists have worked. .. .. .. 88 Table 7.1 Items of the 1968 sample.............................................................. 181 tv Table 7.2 Items of the 2004 sample.............................................................. 183 Table 7.3 1968 sample by type of article................................................. ....... 193 Table 7.4 Voices featured in newspaper items................................................ 194 Table 7.S Main theme of news item, 1968...................................................... 195 Table 7.6 How is the student movement described?........................................ ........ 195 Table 7.7 Who is noted to take part in the student movement?... ........ ........ ...... ......... 197 Table 7.8 What adjectives are used to describe the participants? (when used)...... 198 Table 7.9 Words or phrases used to describe government actions...................... 199 Table 7.10 Position of newspaper article by type of article, September......... ......... 206 Table 7.11 Position of newspaper article by type of article, October........................ 207 Table 7.12 Words used to describe the student movement, 1968............... ............ 208 Table 7.13 Words used to describe the President's actions................................. 209 Table 7.14 Position regarding the President..................................................... 210 Table 8.1 Voices featured in newspaper item, 2004......................................... 218 v Table 8.2 Themes of newspaper items, 2004................................................. 219 Table 8.3 Who is noted to endorse the demonstration? 2004............................... 220 Table 8.4 How are the demonstrators described? 2004...... .............................. 224 Table 8.5 What is noted to be the focus of the demonstration? 2004......... ............ 225 Table 8.6 Position of actors voiced in news item in regards of demonstration, June 2004.................................................................................. 226 Table 8.7 Position of political actors voiced in news item in regards of demonstration, July 2004.............................................................. 227 Table 8.8 Crosstabulation: Voices featured in news items by Position of newspaper item in regards to demonstration, June 2004...................... 228 Table 8.9 Crosstabulation: Voices featured in news items by Position of newspaper item in regards to demonstration, July 2004...................... 229 Table 8.10 Type of voices featured in item by newspaper, 1968 sample................ 239 Table 8.11 Position of newspaper article by type of voice, Excelsior, 1968............. 240 Table 8.12 Position of newspaper article by type of voice, EI Universal, 1968......... 241 VI Table 8.13 Type of voices featured in newspaper article by newspaper, 2004 sample................................................................................ ..... 241 Table 8.14 Position of newspaper article by type of voice, Reforma, 2004........ ...... 242 Table 8.15 Position of newspaper article by type of
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