Violence in the Media: An Observation of Media Content in Juarez and an Exploration of Perceptions of Media by Residents

Abstract

[Introduction] The heightened state of violence in Cd. Juarez in recent years is of concern because of the implications it may have on the well-being and mental health of the people who reside there. The Pan American Health Organization, as an organization that promotes the sharing of knowledge and information, takes interest in the media as agents of information that connect their audiences with the events in the region, specifically, the role it may have in influencing public perception of the violence in the area. A study was conducted to observe the coverage and content the media produce, and to explore how their viewers perceive this coverage, hoping to draw attention on the impact it may have on their lives and mental health. Furthermore, the study explored the exposure that children have had to violence in their surroundings, including in the media. One purpose of this study is to obtain a representation of the content in the media in Cd. Juarez. Another is to shed light on the perceptions of media and violence by the public in Juarez. The goal is to gain a better understanding of the role media play, with the hope of drawing attention to the possible effects they may have, and potentially of influencing media practices on the coverage of violence.