Licenciado

The Mass Media influence in Paraguay

The influence of the mass media in Paraguay is a controversial issue that could be dangerous for the country´s wellbeing, since two of the most influentialholdings own the two most important newspapers, the lack of a proper education of the Paraguayan society and the advances in technology that facilitated the access of the mass media to the population.In this essay, these reasons will be analyzed separately and it will be demonstrated that this potential problem should concern every single citizen.
The two newspapers with more printed editionssold are controlled by the two wealthiest partnerships from Asuncion, the “Zuccolillo Group” and the “A.J. Vierci Group”. These two giants of the Paraguayan market obviously have commercial and politicalinterests that differ from the true values that journalists must practice during their activities. Let us analyze them part by part. The Zuccolillo Group, owner of three of the most important MallCenters, real estate enterprises and even a bank, controls the “ABC Color” newspaper. It is considered the most requested newspaper, with 39.000 printed editions weekly (1). Similarly, the “A.J. VierciGroup” is considered one of the most influential holdings in the capital city, owning supermarket chains, a television channel, two radio stations and numerous enterprises. This Group is theproprietor of the “Ultima Hora” newspaper, the second one in circulation in the country, with 16.161 printed editions. (2). It is obvious that the two most prominent newspapers work according to the interestsand orders dictated by these “heavy-weight” companies of the Paraguayan market. The most important values of journalists as promoters of truth and democracy are too far away from reality, and thissituation represents a real danger for the country´s welfare.
The ignorance and lack of a proper education of the Paraguayan society also complicates this sensitive situation even more. The education...