TV News Networks and Latin America: CNN and BBC

Carreño is disappointed with CNN. He liked it in 1984 yet now, for whatever reason (such as who advertises with them), they decided to go for opinion news over hard news. Immigration provokes very strong feelings and CNN decided to jump on that.

Rockwell said their coverage just isn't the same as what it was. It's become more domestic. Usually the reporting about Mexico in the U.S. is business, not politics or culture. There isn't much dialogue between the media of the Americas.

Rockwell watches more BBC than ever because the U.S. cable networks haven't covered the Americas like BBC has. He also watches Spanish news channels because he can speak Spanish.

Sotero likes CNN International for covering Brazil pretty well. CNN often asks him to speak about whatever happens in Brazil. "You have to produce heat, not light because that is what will attract the audience."



Sotero: When you let the polls decide what to cover, then you are no longer a journalist. You are the person that has the public's trust to debate and that's the role of the journalist. You are the person that tries to make sense of information for people.

It's a very risky job; that's why we journalists are a special breed because we take upon ourselves that responsibility. The only mandate we have is the mandate of democracy."