Abstract
 Web-Based GIS to Explore Media Influence and Election Processes Track: Census and Geodemographics Author(s): Nigel Waters, Chantal Hansen, Heng Sun The Mapping the Media in the Americas Project is a three-year collaboration between the University of Calgary, the Carter Center in Atlanta and the Ottawa-based Canadian Foundation for the Americas (FOCAL). An interactive web-based GIS tool has been developed to graphically illustrate and analyze where the media are located and which electoral districts they reach. Using ArcIMS, we have mapped socio-economic data, electoral results and the locations of the media (TV, Radio Stations and Newspapers) for Canada and eleven South and Central American countries. The aim of this project is to help untangle the complex web of media ownership in the Americas and to allow political parties and non-governmental organizations involved in monitoring the democratic process to determine the influence of the media on the electoral process. This paper explores the results of our comparative analyses with Canada, Peru, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Mexico to date. Nigel Waters University of Calgary Geography 2500 University Dr. NW Calgary , AB T2N1N4 CA Phone: 403-220-5367 E-mail: nwaters@ucalgary.ca Chantal Hansen University of Calgary Geography 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary , AB T2N 1N4 CA Phone: 220-2739 E-mail: cvhansen Heng Sun University of Calgary Geography 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary , AB T2N 1N4 CA Phone: 220-2739 E-mail: hesun@ucalgary.ca |
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