Linking with the Group (Latin America)

Propaganda campaigns have transformed many countries over the decades on both local and global scales. In particular, the Latin American countries of Venezuela, Argentina and Nicaragua, as well as the Caribbean country of Cuba, have been influenced by Western media. In Venezuela, the media is mainly owned by family businesses, such as Grupo Cisneros (Venevision). Their president, Hugo Chavez, showed how media can be used as a dangerous weapon. He directed attacks against journalists and freedom of expression when the media went against his policies. In other scenarios, he used television media to gain popularity. Latin America, as a whole, adapted its media from the West, received foreign investments, and even telecommunication technology. All of these had a huge impact on their media development.

Cuba serves as an example of the Soviet Presence in Socialist countries within Latin nations. The country had poor relations with the United States, which resulted in an embargo. Under President John F. Kennedy, the United States had an anti-Fidel Castro propaganda campaign; when attempts failed to remove him from power, they developed media to influence the Image of Cuba (Radio Marti and TV Marti). Despite all U.S. efforts, Cuba still has a tight grip on its citizens and strong nationalism. The country is still against ideas of democracy and capitalism. Telenovelas remains their only non-state controlled media.

When the United States, or the local Latin American country, didn’t have much media influence on a region, Europe filled the gap. Argentina was involved with a British Propaganda campaign trying to persuade the U.S. to combat Germany in WWII, by bullying and bribing Latin American media to broadcast their messages. The United States used paper media to compete against Europe’s lead in international news. Argentina was highly-ranked for having access to the Internet, and half of Argentina’s households had cable before 2000. Television was viewed as having a prominent influence over the people of Argentina. They had access to a plethora of American networks, including American advertisements, which served as a technique to westernize Latin America.

Nicaragua, a third world country with high illiteracy and low college enrollment rates, makes media a main source of education, knowledge and manipulation, at least to the poorer and less educated crowd. Under President Ronald Reagan, the United States used the media (legally and illegally), along with the Marines and CIA, to promote its agenda of democracy and anti-communist views. The U.S. also supported different sides through funding or armaments, as shown through Contras and Sandinistas. There was also a trend in the United States’ influence: it would start off strong and, after a while, it would weaken. Eventually, the media influence of Europe and other local Latin American countries would emerge as more prominent than that of the United States. The West started the media boom; Latin and Central America have not been able to reap the full benefits of Globalization. However, they are starting to benefit through privatization and advancements in telecommunications, independence and media outlets of their own.