El tratamiento informativo de la migración en los diarios Correo y Opinión de El Oro primer trimestre 2025.

Abstract

This research addresses the informative treatment of migration in newspapers, mail and opinion in the province of El Oro, a border area that experiences constant migratory flows, especially of Latin American citizens. The study is based on the general objective of analyzing how migration is represented in the media, identifying narrative trends, approaches, editorials and discursive representations that influence the construction of social imaginary. It is recognized that local media are key actors in the design of public perceptions and their role in peripheral contexts acquires a particular impact by functioning as the main channel of information for the communities. From the theoretical framework, key concepts such as migration as a social phenomenon and communication, framing theory, and the notion of media representations through stigmas, stereotypes and dominant narratives are used. The role of local media and border contexts, the productive routines of the written press and the structural limitations that affect the ethical coverage of complex issues such as human mobility are explored in depth. This approach is articulated with a critical look at the symbolic power of discourse and its capacity to shape social attitudes. The methodology adopted responds to a qualitative approach with a design based on content analysis and discourse analysis. A coding matrix was applied to the journalistic articles published in mail and Opinion during January, February and March 2025, recording variables such as frequency of publication, physical location, editorial section, narrative approach and use of language. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with three experts in communication, human rights and local journalism, whose voices enriched the critical interpretation of the results. The findings reveal that the newspaper Correo presented more frequent coverage (one article every two days) while the newspaper Opinión published less regularly (one article every five days). Both newspapers organized their publications mainly in political, events and international sections, showing a narrative duality where the migrant is positioned as a subject of institutional management or as a problematic figure linked to violence. Although there are nuances in the editorial approach of each doctor, there is a predominant informative logic that reinforces stereotypes, minimizes the humanitarian context and hinders the visibility of migrant voices. In the discussion, it is interpreted that these patterns are not exceptional, but rather respond to structural dynamics of the regional and national media system. The way in which migration is communicated directly influences collective imaginaries, feeding prejudices and legitimizing discourses of exclusion. For this reason, an ethical transformation of the informative treatment is proposed, articulating actions from journalism, academia and civil society. The proposal includes training for journalists, curricular changes in communication careers, awareness campaigns and spaces for binational exchange between universities in Ecuador and Peru.