Mexico's Presidential Election: Televisa's Bias Raises Concerns Over Fair Coverage

Mexican citizens are questioning the fair coverage of the country's top two television networks, especially in the lead-up to the presidential election on August 21. The longstanding alliance between the governing Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and Televisa, the largest media conglomerate in the Spanish-speaking world, has been under attack by citizens' groups, opposition parties, and independent magistrates on the Federal elections board. With pressure rising for greater fairness in coverage, the Federal elections board has begun monitoring the news, and Televisa has agreed to offer free airtime to each of the nine presidential candidates.

Key Takeaways:

• The PRI has held power in Mexico for 65 years, and its alliance with Televisa has resulted in a significant imbalance in coverage, with the governing party receiving an estimated 80% of the coverage on the country's top two television networks.
• According to a running analysis of television news by the Mexican Academy of Human Rights, PRI candidate Ernesto Zedillo receives less than 40% of the coverage of candidates from the nine parties.
• Televisa's coverage of the PRI is characterized by graphics to illustrate the candidate's points, cheering crowds, and warm praise from men and women on the street, which is not afforded to other candidates.
• The Federal elections board has cited a "lack of balance and objectivity" on television and begun monitoring the news, while Televisa has agreed to offer free airtime to each of the nine presidential candidates.
• The network has also agreed to broadcast six lengthy political-discussion programs at prime time in response to demands from politicians and intellectuals.
• The PRI has received significant financial support from Televisa, with owner Emilio Azcarraga offering $75 million in contributions to the ruling party last year.
• The alliance between the PRI and Televisa has allowed the latter to build a near-monopoly in the media market, with Televisa receiving favorable treatment from the Government, including permits to circumvent laws restricting the advertisement of products like cigarettes and alcohol.

Statistics:

• 80% of the Mexican population watches Televisa, which has four channels and claims to attract 80% of the national audience of around 80 million people.
• 40% is the percentage of coverage that PRI candidate Ernesto Zedillo receives from Televisa, according to a running analysis by the Mexican Academy of Human Rights.
• $641 million is the bid put forward by the most ardently pro-Government contender for the Television Azteca network last year.
• 62 is the number of repeater stations sold by the Government to Televisa, allowing it to build a fourth national network.

Sources:

• "The New York Times", July 25, 1994
• Mexican Academy of Human Rights
• Televisa
• Government of Mexico
• Federal elections board
• The largest of Mexico City's newspapers, with an audited circulation of 120,000 copies.