News of Latin America on network television, 1972–1981: A northern perspective on the Southern Hemisphere

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1986

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Abstract

This study describes Latin American coverage on U.S. network television from 1972 through 1981 and suggests its implications for network newsgathering and U.S. foreign policy toward the region. Latin America received low levels of attention, primarily focused on eight nations. It led other world regions in its proportion of domestic video (usually Washington Bureau) reporting, and over half of direct visual reporting by its correspondents dealt with spot crisis news. Network orientation toward visually exciting crises, together with no permanent presence in the region, encourages a lack of attention to social developments, with adverse consequences for foreign policy.

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