Building the Fourth Estate Democratization & the Rise of a Free Press in Mexico

"This is the first book of its kind to portray the relationship between the media and the state, the changing behavior of the media in the 1990s, and the consequences of these changes for Mexico's democratic transformation. Lawson's work is based on original field research, extensive interviews with relevant actors, and on a survey research project on citizen attitudes toward the media and politics. The book is clearly written, lays out the major arguments, and provides an in-depth analysis. This timely and provocative work is essential reading for understanding a democratic Mexico in the 21st century."and#151;Roderic Ai Camp, author of Mexico's Mandarins: Crafting a Power Elite for the Twenty-First Century

"A dramatic transformation has recently taken place in Mexican politics culminating, for the first time, in the election of an opposition candidate and ending 70 years of one-party rule. Lawson's book is a richly detailed account of the role of the media in this transition. It raises extremely interesting questions about the media's influence on emerging democracies that should be of wide interest well beyond the community of Mexico specialists. It's the best account yet of this dramatic transformation."and#151;Dan Hallin, author of The "Uncensored War": The Media and Vietnam

Based on an in-depth examination of Mexico's print and broadcast media over the last twenty-five years, this book is the most richly detailed account available of the role of the media in democratization, demonstrating the reciprocal relationship between changes in the press and changes in the political system. In addition to illuminating the nature of political change in Mexico, this accessibly written study also has broad implications for understanding the role of the mass media in democratization around the world.

Chappell Lawson is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

List of Illustrations

List of Tables

Preface

1. Introduction

Part 1: The Old Regime and the Mexican Media

2. The Perfect Dictatorship

3. Media Control under the Perfect Dictatorship

4. Media Coverage under the Perfect Dictatorship

Part 2: Media Opening in Mexico

5. Opening Mexicoand#8217;s Print Media

6. Opening Mexicoand#8217;s Broadcast Media

Part 3: The Political Consequences of Media Opening

7. Media Opening and Civil Society in Mexico

8. Media Opening, Scandal, and

Regime Delegitimation

9. Media Opening, Campaigns, and Elections

Part 4: Media Opening and Democratization

10. Conclusions

Appendix

Notes

Bibliography

Index