Exposing the "Masters of the Word" in Latin America http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51352

The figure of the "pater familias" who made his way using methods that were not always spotlessly clean is revealed in research studies like "Los magnates de la prensa" (The Press Magnates) by Chilean journalist María Olivia Mönckeberg (2009). In a number of cases, the building of their fortunes has been linked to business dealings with dictatorial regimes. 

Over recent decades these groups have been transformed and diversified. Today we are dealing with conglomerates that encompass everything from banks to radio and television network chains. The media entrepreneurs of the past have been replaced by huge economic groups; in order to facilitate their activities in the rest of the economy, they need media operations to give them lobbying power.

Q: What is the viewpoint represented by these big media? Mönckeberg says that in Chile, they represent the ultra-conservative neoliberal right… A: In general they are right-wing -- because they defend the status quo. These media groups could not have attained their enormous size -- which, by the way, would be prohibited in developed countries -- if it weren’t for the complacency of political powers that in some cases were in the hands of dictators.

comment-[my emphasys]there area few points i disagree with on this article,mainly these two 1-(In addition to this, it should be noted that in Latin America, with the partial exception of Televisión Nacional de Chile (''Chilean National Television, a public broadcaster), there are no public media akin to the BBC'')

[first of all bbc is not public it is public only in sense that public foots the bill however it is owned by queen her so called majesty and theres a history of mi5 oversight not to mention bias against progressive governments in latin america]

2-(''A: The situation is very different. In Venezuela there is the RESORTE Law (on Social Responsibility in Radio and Television) passed by (President Hugo) Chávez, which I do not agree with, because it interferes with content'')

[first of all the law was passed thru all proper branches of venezuela's government and author fails to mention,that these rightwing private media channels owned by the typical media barons as hes supposedly exposing wich got that power thru ties with dictators,not only engaged ina a coup againsta legitimate democratically elected government,but also call for riots,assasinations and cause pandemonium and confusion thru their campaign of lies...under such circumstances ,the law was properly drafted and ratified)