WHEREAS
there are reports that advertising is used to punish or reward media outlets or journalists in Argentina, Aruba, Bermuda, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Uruguay and Venezuela
WHEREAS
the distribution of government advertising still causes tension between governments and the media; and several sectors of civil society have criticized the governments´ lack of interest in dealing with proposals to regulate the distribution of advertising expenditures
WHEREAS
in Aruba, the newspapers El Diario and Awe Mainta, television station ATV15 and radio stations Canal 90 FM reported discriminatory treatment in the distribution of government advertising
WHEREAS
in Bermuda the government cut advertising in the daily The Royal Gazette, allegedly because of spending cuts and suspended its subscriptions to the newspaper, a measure that is considered a reprisal for its editorial position
WHEREAS
in Ecuador, the government used millions in public funds in advertising campaigns to promote its political position and criticize the opposition
WHEREAS
in Mexico, the newspaper AM de Guanajuato reported that local and state governments use the placement of advertising at their discretion to reward or punish media outlets and journalists
WHEREAS
in Nicaragua, government advertising is used to benefit the government party and promote the image of President Daniel Ortega, and part of the budget is used for television advertisements to insult the opposition
WHEREAS
in Uruguay, the state Banco de la República suspended the placement of advertising in the weekly Búsqueda in reprisal for the publication of a journalistic investigation about the cancelation of a debt Vice President Rodolfo Nin Novoa had with the bank
WHEREAS
principle 7 of the Declaration of Chapultepec says, Tariff and exchange policies, licenses for the importation of paper or news-gathering equipment, the assigning of radio and television frequencies and the granting or withdrawal of government advertising may not be used to reward or punish the media or individual journalists
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE IAPA RESOLVES
to urge the governments of Argentina, Aruba, Bermuda, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Uruguay and Venezuela to end discriminatory practices, to promote the regulation of equitable distribution of advertising placement according to technical criteria so it will not be used as an instrument of coercion or benefit of media outlets and journalists
to reiterate that use of public resources for personal or government interests is a corrupt practice that contradicts the principles of transparency and integrity of public administration.
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