Estudio comparativo del tratamiento dado al caso Odebrecht, por los diarios Expreso y El Universo, en sus informaciones publicadas del 21 de diciembre de 2016 al 20 de enero de 2017, a partir de criterios de calidad.

Abstract

The general objective of my research project is compare the processing of information handled by newspapers: El Universo and Expreso, about Odebrecht Case published between December 21 of 2016 to January 20 of 2017 using quality criteria. My research project focuses on using mixed methods through a combination of quantitative and qualitative research data to evaluate the information provided by both newspapers in order to discover the accurate relevance of approaches and also to know the obstacles and solutions that editorial departments faced. The research techniques used were: content analysis (93 sources consulted) and semi-structured interviews to communication experts and journalists from El Universo and Expreso. As a conclusion, it was found that a lack of concern was involved in the accomplishments of some journalist quality criteria. El Universo did not achieve basic journalist principles as the balance of information with a 76% of noncompliance or informative contribution with an 84% of noncompliance. On the other hand, Expresso did not achieve other criteria like the use of documental sources with a 74% of noncompliance. The communication experts gave their impressions too and they highlighted the effort of Expreso newspaper to incorporate new sources in such a difficult time for journalism and it is also noteworthy for El Universo to always stick to the facts. Consequently, journalist and editors that were interviewed highlighted the obstacles in the process of information involved in this corruption case, affirming that one of the major problems of the Ecuadorian news media is to find accurate sources for the information development.