This current event analyzed in this post is the outburst of political protests in Chile in 2019, covered in the article linked above. Notably, the piece is published on an independent international news site that links to several sources from the republic of Chile. This implies that the media in Chile is relatively free and independent, which is in line with the Global rankings presented in the lecture. This is a crucial component of a democratic social structure, as the media can expose unlawful or unethical behavior of political actors, making them less likely to engage in corruption or other criminal activities.
Despite the country’s seemingly well-developed freedom of the press, its political situation is not ideal, as protests break out, demanding changes to the Chilean Constitution. The root of the unrest is in the consequences of the economic policies instituted by the infamous Pinochet. From the first look, his reforms allowed the country’s economy to grow at impressive rates; however, they resulted in severe inequalities in its society. The article notes that the wealthiest 10% of the population earn as much as 40 times more than the poorest 10%, and the middle class is rarely financially safe.
Although Chile is a democratic country with free and fair elections, its conservative government might still be harming the freedom of media. Another article connected with the same event mentions violence against journalists covering the protests, which is an alarming sign. It is unclear whether these attacks were a deliberate attempt by the government to silence the media or a mistake of the police. In any case, ensuring that the media can function as a source of comprehensive, unbiased information for the people of Chile is crucial to the wellbeing of the nation.