The Use of Generic Frames in Elite Press: Between Conflict, Neutrality, and an Empowered Journalist

Abstract

We propose to submit the existence of the five generic frames advanced by Semetko and Valkenburg [2000. "Framing European Politics: A Content Analysis of Press and Television News." Journal of Communication 50 (2): 93-109. doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.2000.tb02843.x] to a qualitative validation test. We strive to enrich this theory, given its potential to do comparative research across borders, testing it outside the cultural context where it was created, and thus contributing to perfecting its research methods and application, with the inclusion of local frames, better adapted to the Latin American cultural space. A three-year sample of political coverage was analyzed in two Chilean mainstream newspapers often accused of uniform ideological perspective. Although the five frames are used, a simplified form of the conflict frame practically eclipses the other four in use. Two others were identified ("defense" and "informative"), as well a narrative perspective, almost like a meta-frame, which installs the perception that the journalist knows more than ordinary citizens, their colleagues and other political actors.