Reform in War: The Media Policies of Latin America's Leftist Populists

Abstract

Populists of all strands share the trait of holding critical views on the mainstream media. The latter usually get defined in populist appeals as a part, ally or instrument of established power that opposes and silences the people. Of course, the mainstream media targeted are different kinds of media institutions that vary according to each context (Waisbord 2019). If there is a common core in the fact that certain established media institutions are placed in populist views and rhetoric as (at least part of) the powers that antagonise the people, questions arise about the extent to which populists in government exhibit specific media policies. Does it make sense to talk about populist media policies? And if something as a common media policy core exists, how does it relate to democratic freedom of expression?...