Paper presented at the Our Media Not Theirs pre-conference on Alternative Media at IAMCR

Abstract

Since 1979, the Mexican government has been building a radio network for indigenous audiences. Today, more than 20 stations broadcast in 31 languages. The network contributes to the development of indigenous cultures, but radio policy has been unclear and contradictory. Three key periods provide the time framework to reveal Mexico's policy towards the indigenous radio system: (1) the early development of the network (early 1980s), (2) the Zapatista uprising (1994), and (3) the 2000 presidential election. Through in-depth interviews and archival analysis, the formulation of the policy in Mexico City is compared with its implementation in one Maya station.

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In the past two decades, shifts in policy have transformed the shape and goals of Mexico's indigenous-language radio stations. Radio, the first medium that allowed indigenous populations to enter the public sphere using their own language, has become an indispensable means of communication for indigenous peoples throughout Latin America. Unlike in other Latin American countries with large indigenous populations, however, the majority of the country's indigenous-language radio stations belong to the federalgovernment. Through the Instituto Nacional Indigenista (Mexico's institute for indigenous affairs or INI), government officials in Mexico City choose the location of the stations, hire the general managers, and decide the amount of resources allocated to each station. Changes in governmental policy, therefore, affect indigenous-language operation in a direct way.

Since 1979, INI has been building a network of radio stations for indigenous audiences. Today, 24 stations broadcast in 31 native languages for audiences in 26 states.The radio system has become arguably the most prominent governmental support ever granted to indigenous cultures. Although the media alone cannot guarantee the survival, preservation, or expansion of indigenous languages, they play a leading role in the attempt (Browne, 1996).

In spite of the relevance that INI's radio stations have gained in the past two decades, the Mexican government has yet to define explicit radio policy (Castells-Talens, 2000; ZollaLuque, 1996). As the upcoming years will witness a major transformation of telecommunications legislation, INI is planning its strategy to present legislative proposals to the Mexican Congress during the summer and fall of 2002...

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