The conflict between the State of Chile and the Mapuche people in the national and regional Chilean press (2014-2016)

Abstract

This is a comparative study that analyzes the issues and the sources usage related to the conflict between the State of Chile and the Mapuche people in El Mercurio, national press, and El Austral de La Araucanía, regional press. Front pages published during the first two years of Michelle Bachelet’s presidency (2014-2016) conform the corpus of this research. A mixed methodology was applied and a multivariable content analysis was developed (N=603). Although both media belong to the same conglomerate, proximity with Mapuche’s traditional land had a decisive influence in news content. El Austral gave priority to the political discussion meanwhile El Mercurio emphasized violent events and their consequences in regional economic development. Mapuche’s were considered main actors in the news selection of the national newspaper but they were not quoted as sources. El Austral, instead, included Mapuches with political –national and regional– sources.