Media Pluralism, Public Trust, and Democracy: New Evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean
Washington, DC: Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) (2018), 25 pp.
Other editions: also published in Spanish
"There has been a decline in trust in the media in the LAC region. While in 2004 nearly two-thirds of individuals reported having high trust in the media, this result dropped to only half of individuals in 2016/17. Individuals who perceive the media as representative of different viewpoints or who have high trust in the media are more likely to report being satisfied with the way democracy is functioning in their country. Citizen evaluations of media pluralism and ownership concentration do not correspond with expert evaluations of media environments in the LAC region. While experts might hold that greater concentration of ownership inevitably erodes pluralism, the public does not make this link." (Key findings)
Introduction: Media and Democracy in Latin America, 1
What Can the Data Tell Us? The Role of Public Opinion Data in Informing Policy and Advocacy, 6
Concerns about Press Freedom Are on the Rise in Latin America and the Caribbean, 7
Trust in the Media Is on the Decline, 9
Media Pluralism Is a Significant Concern for People in Latin America and the Caribbean, 11
Public Concerns about Media Ownership Concentration Are High but Not Linked to Perceived Media Pluralism, 14
Media Pluralism and Trust Are Key for Democratic Governance in Latin America, 17
From Polling to Practice: Recommendations for Media Reform in Latin America and the Caribbean, 19
What Can the Data Tell Us? The Role of Public Opinion Data in Informing Policy and Advocacy, 6
Concerns about Press Freedom Are on the Rise in Latin America and the Caribbean, 7
Trust in the Media Is on the Decline, 9
Media Pluralism Is a Significant Concern for People in Latin America and the Caribbean, 11
Public Concerns about Media Ownership Concentration Are High but Not Linked to Perceived Media Pluralism, 14
Media Pluralism and Trust Are Key for Democratic Governance in Latin America, 17
From Polling to Practice: Recommendations for Media Reform in Latin America and the Caribbean, 19
