Agenda-building and issue salience: the Water Code reform in the Chilean Press

This study analyzes how Chilean digital media shaped the salience of the Water Code reform (2014–2022) from an agenda-building perspective. Based on a text-pattern analysis of 349 articles published in five online outlets, it examines how media type, content format, and author background influenced which policy issues were prioritized. The analysis identifies five main topics that structured the media agenda: (1) the legislative reform process, (2) the water crisis, (3) sustainable water use, (4) water rights, and (5) the symbolic dimension of water privatization. Clear differences emerged across outlets: mainstream, corporate-owned newspapers emphasize institutional and legal aspects, while independent and progressive media prioritizes environmental and social concerns. Content format played a key role: news articles focused on the legislative process, whereas opinion pieces engaged in broader ideological discussions, particularly on the symbolic meaning of water privatization and the socioenvironmental stakes of reform. Author background also determined how issues were highlighted: journalists generally adopted a neutral and institutional framing, while academics, activists, and legal experts stressed the socioenvironmental challenges and the need for sustainable solutions.