Centre for the Study of Communication and Culture Volume 29 (2010) No. 2 IN THIS ISSUE Communication in Latin American Contexts AQUARTERLY REVIEW OF COMMUNICATION RESEARCH ISSN: 0144-4646 Table of Contents Editor’s Introduction . 3 Communication Research Trends Volume 29 (2010) Number 2 A Brief History of the Latin American http://cscc.scu.edu Academy of Communication . 4 Octavio Islas and Amaia Arribas Published four times a year by the Centre for the Study of 1. Background . 4 Communication and Culture (CSCC), sponsored by the 2. Formation of the Latin American California Province of the Society of Jesus. Community for communication study . 5 Copyright 2009. ISSN 0144-4646 3. Conclusion . .13 Editor: Emile McAnany Research on Colombian Cinema . .15 Editor emeritus: William E. Biernatzki, S.J. Jerónimo León Rivera Betancur Managing Editor: Paul A. Soukup, S.J. 1. A Look Back: A Brief Account of Audiovisual Production in Colombia . .15 Subscription: 2. The Study of Colombian Cinema . .16 Annual subscription (Vol. 29) US$50 3. Research Interests . .18 4. Academic Research . .20 Payment by check, MasterCard, Visa or US$ preferred. 5. Professional Associations of Researchers . .22 For payments by MasterCard or Visa, send full account 6. Conclusion . .22 number, expiration date, name on account, and signature. Regulatory Implications of the Adoption Checks and/or International Money Orders (drawn on of Digital Television in Chile . .25 USA banks; for non-USA banks, add $10 for handling) Sergio Godoy Etcheverry should be made payable to Communication Research 1. The Context . .25 Trends and sent to the managing editor A. The importance of television . .25 Paul A. Soukup, S.J. B. Digitization . .26 Communication Department C. The television business model . .26 Santa Clara University 2. Evaluation Parameters . .27 500 El Camino Real A. The Curran and Seaton Model . .27 Santa Clara, CA 95053 USA B. The model of public service television . .28 C. Parameters of quality television . .29 Transfer by wire: Contact the managing editor. Add $10 3. Evaluation of the Pending Broadcast Legislation 31 for handling. A. Context of the proposal . .31 B. The amendment of Law No. 18,838 . .31 Address all correspondence to the managing editor at the C. Major criticisms of the proposal . .32 address shown above. 4. Conclusion . .33 Tel: +1-408-554-5498 Communication Education in Mexico: Fax: +1-408-554-4913 Overall Trends . .35 email: [email protected] María Antonieta Rebeil Corella, Jorge Hidalo Toledo, and Luis Alberto Luna Rayes The Centre for the Study of Communication and Culture A. Introduction . .35 (CSCC) is an international service of the Society of Jesus B. Communication programs in schools established in 1977 and currently managed by the and universities in Mexico . .35 California Province of the Society of Jesus, P.O. Box 519, C. The universe of communication Los Gatos, CA 95031-0519. programs in Mexico . .36 D. Conclusion . .38 Book Reviews . .40 2— VOLUME 29 (2010) NO. 2 COMMUNICATION RESEARCH TRENDS Communication in Latin American Contexts The set of four articles in this review reminds us Jerónimo León Rivera Betancur from Colombia that the field of “communication research” is a new- and Sergio Godoy from Chile illustrate both national comer to university tradition. The first study program and common concerns for their colleagues in other under the name “communication” in a university set- countries. Rivera has provided one of the first serious ting is said to have been that inaugurated by Wilbur efforts to draw together the history of film in his Schramm at the University of Illinois in September, country, arguing that this effort is important in any 1948 (Rogers, 1994). Since that time there has been an country wishing to understand the place of this medi- exponential growth of such programs in almost every um in telling the story of its society. His efforts are a country around the globe. Latin America is no excep- beginning, and a useful beginning, of what should tion. In these four articles we find the authors provid- grow into deeper study. It is also a study that can be ing some sense of the growth and depth of research in shared across borders. Godoy, on the other hand, communication in this region. As in the U.S., study of looks ahead in Chile at the introduction of digital tel- communication in Latin America has advanced as the evision for its open broadcasting system, a task that practice and use of technologies have transformed soci- faces a number of countries in the region. His analy- eties over the last 50 or 60 years. Today, communica- sis of the consequences for society and for regulation tion has become a central activity and concern for the in Chile will stand as a model for others. He argues world and has helped usher in the phenomenon of glob- that the proposed legislation for the five year transi- alization itself. tion to digital is not comprehensive enough and will As Octavio Isalas and Amaia Arribas argue in the demand a process of both research and debate over first article, Latin America followed the trend for estab- what consequences digital television could have for lishing communication as a field of theory and research Chile, and by analogy for other countries who are fac- in universities in 1959 with the establishing of univer- ing a similar transition. sity programs of communication in Mexico, Venezuela, Maria Antonieta Rebeil Coralla and colleagues and Argentina. Following a paradigm from the out- from Anahuac University in Mexico present a short standing Brazilian researcher, Marques de Melo, the report on a national survey completed in 2009. The authors suggest that in the first period of a decade or import of the report again has implication for other more Latin American was influenced by models from Latin American countries and, indeed, for other coun- the U.S., but that by the 1970s they had defined heir tries around he world: rapid growth in communication own approach that reflected the reality of their societies programs but without proper oversight for quality con- better. The point that they make is that from early on in trol. Of the more than 1,000 communication studies their development, communication programs began to programs they found, less than 10% had been approved collaborate with other Latin American universities and by educational authorities, suggesting that quality more that that collaboration resulted in not only national than quantity should be the criterion. A suggestion that associations of researchers but in 1978 and 1981 in the all of us might be thinking about. founding of two international regional based associa- —Emile McAnany tions, ALAIC and FELAFACS. These have greatly Editor strengthened the growing national programs and encouraged an interchange that makes the sharing of Reference research across borders more common and beneficial Rogers, E. (1994). A history of communication study: for the region. A biographical approach. New York: The Free Press. COMMUNICATION RESEARCH TRENDS VOLUME 29 (2010) NO. 2 — 3 A Brief History of the Latin American Academy of Communication1 Octavio Islas and Amaia Arribas Tecnologico de Monterrey Autonomous University of Barcelona Campus Estado de Mexico Spain This essay in no way attempts to completely ana- As residents of the periphery, our narrative and lyze the main objects of study or even the uniqueness interpretation differ from the vaunted heroic assump- or relevance of the theoretical and methodological tion about who recounts and describes the script and imagination that we have designated as the “Latin names the protagonists of the story. Our position American academy of communication.” Instead this towards Latin American programs of communications essay responds to a far more modest concern—to is also critical, and the critique, as rightly pointed out describe specific episodes of relevance to our troubled by the Mexican Octavio Paz—the smartest of the 20th historiography of the Latin American academy of com- century—“consist[s] as much or more as in the knowl- munication, understanding that it definitely can not be edge to free us. Criticism displays a possibility of free- understood as an essence but as a story. dom and it is an invitation to action” (Paz, 1970, p. 12). Beyond the description of certain events, it is The maturity of Latin American communication pro- essential to understand that the history of Latin grams depends on the strength of their institutions, not American programs of communication results from the the charisma of their leaders or the intricate interests of actions and commitments of some groups which, over some of the powers that actually have managed to sub- the years, have become the powers inside the Latin ordinate the interests of the academy to their particular American programs of communication and from the interests. Perhaps future generations of scholars and unquestionable “charisma” of certain leaders. It could researchers of communication are able to act with not be otherwise. The Latin American programs of greater generosity, noting the actual benefit of the Latin communication simply reflect and to some extent American programs of communication, apart from the reproduce the historical inevitability of Latin America. interest groups. In the deep history of our troubled region, national chiefs and leaders have taken on key roles and 1. Background: The Latin American appealed to constitutional goals. This situation has hin- dered the healthy development of our institutions. academy of communication before Something similar has happened within the Latin CIESPAL American academy of communication. In the vast José Marques de Melo (2007), a leading Brazilian majority of associations, councils, and federations, communication researcher argues that since the late which should specifically promote the study and 19th century we find evidence of Latin American stud- research of communication, the democratic and institu- ies on certain phenomena of communication.