ABSTRACT
The pronounced technological, cultural, economic, and political changes that have taken place since 1990 have dramatically affected communication and journalism studies. The expansion of the field, the methodological approaches, and the most common and influential subjects all have been affected by these changes. Numerous academic studies have served to monitor and organize the scientific production of this discipline in many parts of the world (Chang & Tai 2005; Donsbach, Laub, Haas, & Brosius 2005; Kamhawi & Weaver 2003; Machill, Beiler, & Fischer 2006; Perloff 1976; Riffe & Freitag 1997; Schweitzer 1988; Shoemaker 1987; Wartella & Reeves 1985; Wimmer & Haynes 1978). In Latin American academic circles, however, the discussion about how journalism and communication research have changed does not seem to be a priority as evidenced by the lack of cross-national studies and systematic meta-analyses. In fact, the absence of these analyses actually prevents the discovery of characteristics that are shared by journalism and communication studies in Latin American countries. Such efforts, however, could support the identification of common methodological and theoretical frames that have been contextualized within Latin America’s media environment.
