The relationship between media and news sources: A content analysis of Argentine telephone service privatization in August to October 1990

Abstract

This study analyzed the media coverage of the process for the privatization of Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (ENTel), the Argentine state-owned telephone company provided by the Argentine printing press during the last stage of the company’s state management (August to October 1990). Results showed that the media were prone to publish the information as disclosed by official entities. Thus, among primary sources, in almost two out of three articles (68.4%) journalists resorted to official sources (members of the Executive and the Legislature), while in a fourth part of the coverage (24.7%) they quoted non-official sources (telephone employees and private consortiums). Also, the capacity of the actors to influence media agenda was conditioned upon their political, socio-cultural and economical level. Those standing nearest to the political power, having a higher institutional framework, accessed the press in more stable circumstances whereas powerless actors may barely have an efficient influence on news coverage.