The History of Journalism in Latin America

From the deserts of northern Mexico to as far south as the Rio Plata in Argentina, this book traces the history of journalism in Latin America from its earliest roots and examines how it relates to the modern importance of media in the twenty-first century.

By exploring mestizo roots, The History of Journalism in Latin America examines Indigenous foundations, pre-colonial methods, and post-colonial systems of communication to show how earlier publications became instrumental to regional nineteenth-century independence movements throughout Latin America. Although the history of communication in the region is characterized by the control and censorship of empires, be they Indigenous or European, this study argues that modern journalism at its core is the story of crusading for freedom and independence. Through a country-by-country approach, this book explores key themes such as family media empires in Mexico, newspaper competition in Brazil, the dissemination of political agendas in Colombia’s El Espectador, and conservative media outlets in Argentina and Chile. It demonstrates the varied roles of media: businesses, societal forces, and institutions of governmental change.

This volume is the perfect introduction to the history of journalism and media in Latin America for students.

Rick Rockwell is Professor Emeritus at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he also served as Chief Communications Officer and Vice President. Previously, he taught at American University and Northwestern University. He is the co-author of Media Power in Central America.