The Mapping the Media in the Americas project investigates the relationship between media and democracy in Canada and 11 Latin American countries. The project provides information about the location, coverage and ownership structure of the media (television, radio, and print media), along with key information about demographics and election results. Mapping the Media in the Americas was launched in 2004, and includes maps of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.

The media can play an important role in the decisions that citizens make in democratic societies. Information about elections, candidates, public services, and government policies is transmitted through the media. Mapping the Media in the Americas highlights the link that exists between the media, the citizens, and their electoral choices, helping to understand how they influence each other in Latin America.

Creating an environment that promotes transparency and freedom of the press is impossible without analyzing these linkages. Despite this need, however, there continues to be an absence of accurate information about the media in many countries throughout Latin America. Little is publicly known about the ownership structure of the media, the impact of media messaging on the vote, or the effect of media concentration and its potential threat to the diversity of ideas, freedom of expression and access to information.