Summary: | An analysis was made of the overall character of the British press coverage of Latin America. This analysis was broadly divided into' quantitative and qualitative. The aim of the research was to examine the relationship between the reporting on the region and the historical, political and economic links with the Latin American continent, as well as between the professional practices of journalists in London (foreign editors) and those based on the area (correspondents). Information was obtained from content analyses made on different historical periods, from questionnaires and interviews, and from related bibliography. A theoretical framework was established, together with an historical, economic and organisational context. A relevant methodology was also established and conforms an important aspect of this study. The analyses were carried out over samples taken from the end of the 19th Century, the 1970s and the 1980s. The data obtained from the questionnaires and interviews with journalists were analysed in connection with the rest of the findings, linking the empirical and the theoretical spheres of this work in an interrelating whole. The research presents a picture of the way Latin America has been covered by the British press over the years, shows the deficiencies and suggests ways of improvement through changes in cultural attitudes.
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