PRESSETAHITI.COM
The Chilean press, from Santiago to Valparaíso
In Chile, news is read in Spanish in El Mercurio and La Tercera, in Diario Financiero for business, on radio stations such as BioBioChile and Cooperativa, and on digital sites such as El Mostrador, most of them accessible online.
El Mercurio de Valparaíso, a veteran from 1827
El Mercurio de Valparaíso, founded in 1827, is considered the oldest Spanish-language daily still published anywhere in the world. Its Santiago edition appeared in 1900, and the Edwards family built the country's main press group around it.
El Mercurio and La Tercera, two dominant groups
Chile's print press was long organised as a duopoly: the El Mercurio group, with Las Últimas Noticias, and the Copesa group, publisher of La Tercera and the popular daily La Cuarta. Their lines are generally described as centre-right.
Chilean Spanish, Mapudungun and Rapa Nui
The media publish in Chilean Spanish, known for its fast delivery and local expressions. Community radio stations in the south broadcast in Mapudungun, the Mapuche language, and content in Rapa Nui is produced on Easter Island for local listeners.
Concepción, Antofagasta and the Chilean regional press
The El Mercurio group owns a network of regional dailies, such as El Mercurio de Antofagasta and El Sur in Concepción. They follow the copper mines of the north, fishing, forest fires and political life in the regions.
Which Chilean digital outlets are worth following?
El Mostrador, launched in 2000, was one of the first digital-only dailies on the continent. CIPER, an investigative journalism centre, publishes landmark investigations, and the websites of the radio stations BioBioChile and Cooperativa are among the most visited.
BioBio and Cooperativa radio: rolling news
Radio has played a historic role in Chile: Cooperativa is still associated with its coverage during the dictatorship, while BioBio, born in Concepción, has established itself nationally. Their websites carry wire stories, live coverage and podcasts free of charge.
TVN, Chile's public television
Televisión Nacional de Chile, founded in 1969, is the public channel, funded mainly by advertising. Its news channel 24 Horas streams continuously online. The private channels Mega, Chilevisión and Canal 13 complete the broadcasting landscape for viewers.
Exile and the Chilean diaspora
After the 1973 coup, many Chileans exiled in France, Sweden or Mexico published newsletters and magazines. Today the press of neighbouring Argentina and the Spanish media keep a close eye on the Chilean community abroad.
Diario Financiero, copper and football
Diario Financiero is the leading business daily, alongside Pulso, now part of La Tercera. They cover Codelco, lithium and the Santiago stock exchange. Football, from Colo-Colo to Universidad de Chile, dominates the sports pages across the country.
Press freedom and ownership concentration in Chile
Since the return to democracy in 1990, the Chilean press has worked freely, but concentrated ownership is a matter of debate. Coverage of the 2019 social unrest and the constitutional processes has boosted interest in independent media.
Subscribing to El Mercurio or La Tercera
El Mercurio and La Tercera reserve part of their articles for subscribers, payable in Chilean pesos. The radio stations, El Mostrador and CIPER remain largely free. For a broader view, see also our overview of media in the Americas.
Satire, rumours and fact-checking in Chile
The Clinic, born in 1998 as a satirical weekly, now mixes humour and journalism, so do not take every headline literally. Fast Check CL and Cooperativa's own checks help untangle rumours spreading on social networks.
Reading Chilean news from abroad
- Choose a Santiago daily, La Tercera or El Mercurio, for national politics and parliamentary debates.
- Add the BioBioChile or Cooperativa website for breaking news and live coverage.
- Read CIPER for in-depth investigations into institutions, companies and the courts.
- Watch 24 Horas, TVN's news channel, live online during major events.
- Follow Diario Financiero if you are interested in copper, lithium or the Santiago markets.
- Check the date and source of any earthquake or wildfire video before sharing it, because old footage circulates often.
Free or paid: the Chilean press
| Type of outlet | Access | Note |
|---|---|---|
| BioBioChile and Cooperativa radio | Free | Websites and live streams funded by advertising |
| El Mostrador and CIPER | Free | Optional donations or supporter subscriptions |
| El Mercurio and La Tercera | Partly paid | Digital subscription, price varies in Chilean pesos |
| Diario Financiero | Mostly paid | Indicative price, professional plans |
| TVN and 24 Horas | Free streaming | Some programmes restricted outside Chile |
Essential pointers on Chilean media
- Language: Chilean Spanish
- Time zone: UTC-4, with daylight saving time (UTC-3) for part of the year
- Currency: Chilean peso (CLP)
- Leading dailies: El Mercurio and La Tercera
- Business daily: Diario Financiero
- Public television: TVN and its 24 Horas channel
- Investigative journalism: CIPER
Common pitfalls with Chilean newspapers
- Confusing El Mercurio of Santiago with El Mercurio de Valparaíso or the regional editions, which share the name but have separate newsrooms.
- Taking a satirical piece from The Clinic as factual news, especially when it circulates as a screenshot.
- Ignoring the concentration of the big dailies: comparing them with independent media helps you spot different angles.
- Sharing old earthquake footage as if it were recent, a frequent trap in such a seismically active country.
- Turning to sites that bypass the El Mercurio paywall, which may install malicious browser extensions.
Frequent questions about Chilean newspapers
What is the oldest newspaper in Chile?
El Mercurio de Valparaíso, founded in 1827, is the oldest Chilean daily and one of the oldest Spanish-language newspapers still published. The Santiago edition, created in 1900, is now the more influential of the two.
Which Chilean radio station can I listen to online?
BioBioChile and Cooperativa are the two most followed news stations, with rich websites and free live streams. ADN Radio also offers news and sports programming that can be accessed from abroad.
How can I follow the Chilean economy?
Diario Financiero and La Tercera's Pulso section cover the Central Bank, Codelco, pensions and the stock exchange. Reports from the Central Bank of Chile let you check inflation and growth figures for yourself.
Is The Clinic a satirical newspaper?
The Clinic was born in 1998 as a satirical weekly, at the time of Augusto Pinochet's arrest in London. Today it also publishes serious interviews and reports, which is why it pays to check the tone of each article.
Chilean dailies, radio stations and news sites online
- El Mercurio (Emol)Website of El Mercurio, the oldest Spanish-language daily still published, founded in 1827, Chile's conservative reference.
- La TerceraMajor national daily of the Copesa group, founded in 1950, covering politics, economy, sport and culture.
- Diario FinancieroChile's reference business daily, covering markets, the Santiago stock exchange, mining and companies.
- La CuartaPopular Copesa tabloid with a colloquial tone, focused on crime, football and entertainment.
- BioBioChileRadio network born in Concepción whose website is among the country's most read for national and regional news.
- CooperativaHistoric radio station founded in 1936, a symbol of free information under the dictatorship, offering continuous news.
- El MostradorChile's first digital daily, founded in 2000, known for political analysis and opinion pages.
- The ClinicSatirical and investigative outlet founded in 1998, mixing political humour, reporting, interviews and social commentary.
- CIPER ChileIndependent investigative journalism centre behind major probes into corruption, justice and economic power.
- 24 HorasNews service of public broadcaster TVN, with a rolling news channel and a national and international news site.
- T13News service of Canal 13, offering TV bulletins, live coverage and national and international news online.
- CNN ChileChilean rolling news channel affiliated with CNN, covering politics, economy, weather and international news.