The Media and the Limits of Accountability in Unconsolidated Democracies: The Case of Mexico

Abstract

An important characteristic in regimes that at some point began political liberalization processes has to do with the increase in diversity and freedom of expression in the media. However, in those regimes that after initiating such processes have not been able to successfully transit towards consolidated forms of democracy, diversity and freedom of expresión in the media do not translate into more effective surveillance functions against abuses of power (watchdog role), not only because the governments’ commitment to accountability is more discursive than real, but also because the informational divergence in the coverage of these issues reduces their strength in public opinion. This paper compares the coverage of two alleged corruption scandals: the “White House” of president Peña Nieto and “The houses” of the director of the Federal Commission of Electricity, Manuel Bartlett. Despite being two different governments, the resulting impunity, although due to the lack of institutional commitment of the responsible agency, also responds to the inability of the media to construct an alternative and different narrative on the issue of corruption.