Climate of press freedom in the Americas worsens
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The Inter American Press Assn. (IAPA) wound up its mid-year meeting in Paraguay on Monday declaring that freedom of the press in the Americas deteriorated over the last six months because of several adverse factors, including ‘the murders of journalists and violence against them, campaigns to discredit the press and a climate of hostility by some governments toward news media and reporters and as a consequence of the U.S. newspaper industry crisis.’
The statement on the group’s website reports that populist governments in the region followed the lead of ‘Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez [and] stepped up their campaigns of abuse and ridicule of news organizations and individual reporters.’
The IAPA also noted the ongoing newspaper crisis in the United States threatens the role of the press in the U.S as a watchdog over government and private corruption.
‘But Mexico remained one of the most dangerous places for journalists, with the assassinations of four journalists and eight serious attacks on journalists or their workplaces. Even newspaper delivery trucks have been targeted by organized criminals’ intent on silencing the press. Unfortunately, it is working: Self-censorship is a reality in the Mexican press.’
Read the full statement through the link above.
-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City