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Chomsky and Herman’s Propaganda Model: Its Applicability to the Protests in Ecuador in October 2019

Abstract:

The actuality of Chomsky and Herman’s Propaganda Model (PM) as a valid tool is analyzed with the background of the Ecuadorean demonstrations of October 2019. For this purpose, a quantitative and qualitative content analysis of 167 sample units from (151) digital news stories and (16) TV debate shows is performed. The results confirm two hypotheses: (1) The austerity packages which triggered out demonstrations in Ecuador were supported by economic and political elites, through the mass media, notwithstanding their tremendously negative consequences on Ecuador most impoverished and vulnerable sectors; (2) The MP five filters are applicable to the studied media. In view thereof, the PM is deemed to be valid even outside the US to analyze the power-supporting behavior and propaganda performance of mass media. Further steps are encouraged toward the empirical demonstration of the PM validity in Latin America and other regions, and its legitimacy within the scientific community.