Mediación Comunicativa y Ocupación Social del Desierto: Caso Mexicali, Baja California, México

Abstract

In this essay, a case study intended to increase knowledge on the study of the interaction between human beings and desert natural environments is exposed. Based on the communicative mediation paradigm, a systematic follow up is carried out about the production of media representations related to: extreme climate, water and electric energy; which are three significant elements in the history of the social occupation of the arid land that ended up in the foundation and development of the city known by the acronym Mexicali (Mex = Mexico and Cali = California) in the western border, between México and the United States of America. In order to substantiate the above, it has been taken as support at both the theoretical and conceptual levels, the Theory of Social Production of Communication by Manuel Martín Serrano, when it comes to constructing proposals of visions of the world by the mediating institutions. Regarding the methodical and technical level, content analysis has been made in 618 units (journalistic notes) published in the local papers: La Voz de la Frontera, Novedades and La Crónica de Baja California, in different moments between 1967 and 2006.