Miami (October 8, 2014)—An analysis of the work of the Office of Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and a look at the relationship of Latin American democracies with the news media are part of the agenda of the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) 70th General Assembly to be held in Chile October 17-21.
Invited to take part in the official opening ceremony on Monday, October 20 is Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet. The meeting’s most important discussions, as occurs twice a year, will be focused on a review of the state of press freedom, the most common violations and the general context of the socio-political situation in each of the countries of the Americas.
The more than 350 editors, publishers and reporters attending will also be able to take part in seminars on how to attract local audiences, regional newspapers and successful editorial projects, perfecting the editorial role and the importance of mobile phones as providers of news.
On Sunday, October 19, a special day on press freedom, there will be included a panel discussion on the role of the IACHR’s Office of Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression featuring former rapporteur Catalina Botero and José Miguel Vivanco of Human Rights Watch. Another roundtable, on democracies and the media will have the participation of journalists Mary O’Grady of The Wall Street Journal, Joaquín Morales Solá of Argentina’s La Nación, and Ricardo Hausmann of Harvard University.
At this General Assembly, which will be held at the Hotel W in the Chilean capital, Santiago, the IAPA will present its awards for excellence in journalism, featuring the Press Freedom Award which will go to the Colombian organization ANDIARIOS.
For more information on the IAPA General Assembly go to the Web site http://www.sipchile.org/
