Reflection on Latin American journalism

(Caracas, October 2, 2007).- Over 90 Ibero-American journalists debated issues of common interest at the Fifth Seminar “Quest for Journalistic Quality Seminar, citizen participation and media contribution to development,” which ended today in Monterrey. The event was organized by the Andean Development Corporation and the Ibero-American New Journalism Foundation (FNPI) with the sponsorship of CEMEX and the Spanish Carolina Foundation.

The seminar, which was part of the CAF-FNPI Journalism Encounters program, began with a presentation by Geraldinho Vieira of the Avina-Brazil Foundation and FNPI member on the social responsibility of media companies in the face of the challenges of sustainable development and social cohesion in Latin America. Viera said that the current Latin American situation required more plurality and expanded analytical content in the media and suggested a radical rethinking of the way the profession is practiced.

The next roundtable was on “Formation of the agenda, specialized sections and coverage: report, investigate, describe and explain key issues on sustainable development.” The first day ended with presentation of the CEMEX-FNPI New Journalism Awards. The winning entries covered civil society affected by the internal armed conflict in Colombia (category TV); exploitation of child labor in Brazil (category Internet); and modern slavery in clandestine factories which exploit illegal immigrants in Argentina (category radio).

The second day began with a presentation by Clemencia Rodríguez of Oklahoma University, who opened the panel on “Journalism in citizen media and community radio, and its contribution to regional and local development processes in Latin America.” Lastly, Jean-François Fogel of Le Monde, France, led the discussion “Internet: participation of audiences and citizen journalism, in the face of the challenges of development and social cohesion,” which examined the importance of understanding that this medium has led to a change in the way audiences act, and its consequences for the practice of journalism.” He said it was important to understand the change in the way audiences act caused by the internet and its consequences for the practice of journalism.

The other panelists and commentators present included Ernesto Lamas (AMARC, Argentina); Martín Caparrós (FNPI Argentina); Rosental Calmon Alves (University of Texas, Brazil); Carlos E. Cortés (Radio Nederland Training Centre, Colombia); Jaime Abello Banfi (FNPI, Colombia); Sebastián Campaña (EMOL – El Mercurio On Line, Chile); Francisco Herrera (Ecuadorinmediato.com, Ecuador); Soledad Gallego and Miguel Ángel Noceda (El País, Spain); Joaquín Estefanía (Escuela de Periodismo El País, Spain); Gumersindo LaFuente, Internet jury (Spain); Carlos Monsivais (FNPI, Mexico); Jenaro Villamil (La Jornada, Mexico); Luis Miguel González (Público Milenio, Mexico); Sergio Muñoz (FNPI, Mexico); José Jara (Canal N, Peru); Mónica Caceda (Peru.com, Peru); Héctor Feliciano (FNPI, Puerto Rico); William Echeverría (independent producer, Venezuela); and Nelson Bocaranda (Circuito Unión Radio, Venezuela).