By Maira Magro
Clarín and La Nación newspapers report that for five hours, 50 demonstrators obstructed the circulation of their Saturday editions by blocking trucks leaving the papers’ printing plants. The Argentine Association of Journalistic Entities (ADEPA) called this “one of the most serious attacks on press freedom in recent times in Argentina.”
The protesters are demanding that Clarín-owned print company Artes Gráficas Rioplatenses reintegrate fired union members, Diario Registrado explains.
Labor Minister Carlos Tomada has come out in defense of the demonstrators, saying that the print company has engaged in “systematic violations of freedom of union association,” Télam adds. “This is not a conflict between Clarín and the government,” the minister said, referring to the ongoing tension between the two, “this is a conflict between Clarín and the law.” The newspaper argues that the protest was organized by government allies.
This is the third time in a month that protesters have impeded the circulation of Clarín, and the Inter American Press Association has called on the government to take immediate action to prevent further disruptions.
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.
