Abstract

GALARZA MOLINA, Rocío Araceli. Democratic Roles and Challenges for the Practice of Journalism in Mexico. Rev. mex. cienc. polít. soc [online]. 2020, vol.65, n.239, pp.167-191.  Epub Jan 31, 2021. ISSN 0185-1918.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fcpys.2448492xe.2020.239.68265.

Assuming journalism has a normative democratic value at its core, this research draws on 17 in-depth interviews with Mexican journalists (primarily located in Monterrey and Mexico City) to determine how they conceive their normative roles in a non-consolidated democracy. Results indicate that the main function identified by journalists is the monitorial one, that is, providing citizens with information to make decisions. However, when reflecting on their ability to perform this role, Mexican journalists acknowledge that they fail democracy. This failure is due to various challenges pertaining to their particular context and problems that afflict journalism worldwide. Most notably, Mexican journalists struggle with media owners and political authorities whose actions still correspond to the old political system and weak political institutions incapable of guaranteeing their safety.

Keywords : democracy; journalism; media; normative roles; Mexico.