MEDIA, DEMOCRACY, AND CHANGE

Sammanfattning: Electoral campaigns have become critical moments in countries like Mexico in which democracy is in development. To observe the electoral process is important because in it further relationships between society and authorities are shaped. In electoral campaigns, the media plays an important role and in special television. However, television companies in Mexico have developed interests that struggle with democracy. The internet, often posed as an alternative to corporate media, is not used widely by the population because the lack of infrastructure and knowledge. Nevertheless, the election in Mexico in 2012 presented protests against a candidate, and a Social Movement arising in the middle of the campaign that struggled for more democratic mass media. This provides evidence of an emerging society more aware of the necessity of changes in the relationship between them and the authorities. The aim of this work is to explore the particularities of the Mexican election trying to present an explanation that allows understanding of the possible causes that originated protests and the rise of the movement Yo Soy 132, and in consequence, a possible change in the relationships between media, government, and society. The data collected for this Case Study comes from media reports; those included two newspapers, television news, and Interviews from Televisa as well as data from web pages of the Political Parties and from Federal Institutions. The analysis of the data was made using theories of media and democracy. The analysis found that “accessibility” and “knowledge” explained in to different approaches are important in understanding the particularities of the election in Mexico. Alternatively, the analysis found that to solve problems regarding “accessibility and “knowledge” are important challenges to Mexico to become fully democratic regarding media and democracy.