Costa Rica

Despite its relatively small size of 19,700 square miles (51,100 square kilometers), the Central American nation of Costa Rica has diverse and vibrant media serving its population of close to 5 million people. While the nation’s mass media has expanded rapidly since the late 1990s, particularly given the proliferation of Internet-driven media and social media, Costa Rica’s largely privately owned and highly concentrated broadcast television, radio, and print newspapers have remained a strong force in contemporary Costa Rican society and culture. This entry provides an overview of media in Costa Rica, including the history and growth of traditional and new media, related government regulations, and freedom of the press. It concludes by exploring the use of media in advocacy and activism to effect social change.