Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
9-2022
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Program
Political Science
Advisor
Mark Ungar
Committee Members
Kenneth Erickson
Till Weber
Bilge Yesil
Jeremy Porter
Subject Categories
Comparative Politics | Social Influence and Political Communication
Keywords
electoral politics, violence, media freedom, democracy, Latin American politics
Abstract
Democratization theories assume that democracy and media freedom go hand in hand. However, in democracies, politicians and individuals who have a stake in political battles often attack journalists. How can political and electoral incentives that are at the heart of democracy create a minefield for journalists? Examining cross-national patterns of censorship and the experiences of journalists in Venezuela, Mexico, and Brazil captured in over 4,600 case narratives, 30 field interviews, and historical documents, I study the circumstances under which political rivalries result in anti-media violence. I show that state and non-state actors are more likely to target journalists as a strategy to advance their electoral and political agendas in contexts where (1) levels of electoral competition are heightened, and (2) historical and institutional practices normalize and perpetuate restrictions on media freedom and violence against journalists. The studies presented here show not only that electoral competition increases the incidence of restrictions on media freedom, but that the logic behind electorally motivated restrictions on media freedom is context specific and heterogeneous.
Recommended Citation
Mazzaro, Kyong, "The Politics of Media Freedom" (2022). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/4990