By Ingrid Bachmann
The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) has expressed concern over the "deterioration" of freedom of the press in Argentina, and accused the administration of Argentine President Cristina Fernández of executing a strategy of information control reported the Associated Press.
On Thursday, May 5, IAPA concluded a visit to Buenos Aires. According to the news agency EFE, in its preliminary report, IAPA denounced the "constant harassment and intimidation of independent and critical journalists" in an attempt to "create self-censorship or simply attack them to destroy their credibility."
The Argentine government maintains a tense relationship with private media, especially the newspaper Clarín. IAPA said that in Argentina the public media are utilized as instruments of government propaganda, added Reuters.
The government denies there are any restrictions on freedom of expression according to Voice of America.
“Let's call things by their name. If there exist limits to the full exercise of freedom of expression in Argentina today, it is not because of the action of this government, but the dominance of a media conglomerate that operates as a political actor and that has decided to maintain their power putting their corporate interests above the laws of the Republic," said Communication secretary Juan Manuel Abad, as quoted by Voice of America.
Other Related Headlines:
» Cadena Global (in Spanish) (Journalists denounce Clarín for obstructing freedom of the press)
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
