Journalism and democracy in Argentina and Latin America

The new edition of Foro Latinoamericano Buenos Aires, took place in this opportunity at Communications College of Universidad Austral, with the participation of Carlos Lauría, María Eugenia Estenssoro, Silvana Giudici, Néstor Sclauzero, Marta Velarde and Fernando Ruiz as guest speakers.

The new edition of Foro Latinoamericano Buenos Aires, took place in this opportunity at Communications College of Universidad Austral, with the participation of Carlos Lauría, María Eugenia Estenssoro, Silvana Giudici, Néstor Sclauzero, Marta Velarde and Fernando Ruiz as guest speakers.

The opening was in charge of Fernando J. Ruiz, professor of Communications College of Universidad Austral and member of the Academic Council of CADAL who analyzed the Local Level Journalism and Democracy Indicators in Latin America between 2004 and 2009.

After that, with the participation of three federal legislators a panel was organized on "Press Freedom and institutional quality in Argentina". This panel was openned by Marta Velarde, National Representative and Secretary of Free Speech Commission; then the presentation was in charge of María Eugenia Estenssoro, Senator and member of the Commission of Systems, Media and Free Speech, and finally Silvana Giudici, Federal Representative and Chairman of Free Speech Commission gave her views.

The Forum concluded with the presentations of Néstor Sclauzero and Carlos Lauría, with Hernán Alberro as moderator. Sclauzero, journalist in Radio Rivadavia and América 24 and founding member of Foro de Periodistas de Argentina (FOPEA), analyzed "The main problems of the journalistic activity in Argentina"; and Carlos Lauría, Coordinator for the Americas of the Committee to Protect Jouranlists (CPJ) and member of CADAL's Advisory Council, referred to the "Atacks on the press in Latin America and the cases with most impunity globally".

Martín Di Natale, journalist of La Nación newspaper, and Peter Behrens, Director of the Media Program for Latin America at Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.

Luján De La Torre, Assistant of Information at the Embassy of New Zealand; Gabriel Salvia, Chairman of CADAL; Marta Velarde, National Representative; and Reinaldo Martínez, journalist and host of the radio show "Pasando factura" at Continental FM radio station.

Francisco Vera Rojas, advisor of national representative Silvana Giudici; and Hernán Alberro, Programs Director of CADAL.

Coffee break: Most of the 70 participants to the Forum were students.