How has mass communication evolved in Latin America? How has the political climate in that region shaped the role of the mass media? What factors unite these many diverse countries? What are the special challenges facing this turbulent area?

In Communication in Latin America: Journalism, Mass Media, and Society, editor Richard R. Cole has assembled a selection of articles that explore these issues. The book focuses on journalism, given the traditional strength of the press in Latin America. The twelve comprehensive essays-written exclusively for this publication-examine either an aspect of...