At its 67th annual general assembly in Lima, Peru, the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) announced the publication of its bilingual book “Stories and Sketches,” that recounts the experiences of journalists from throughout the Americas who have been awarded scholarships by the organization during the past 57 years.
Each year, IAPA sends journalists from Latin American and the Caribbean to the United States and Canada, and vice versa, to spend a year studying, reporting and learning about the country's press system. Established in 1954, the IAPA scholarship has been awarded to 360 journalists, 120 of whose tales are recounted in the new book.
Journalists between the ages of 21 and 35 can apply now for the $20,000 IAPA scholarship. The deadline to submit an application is Jan. 31, 2012.
The launch of the book comes as IAPA focuses on violence against the press at its general assembly, which started Friday, Oct. 14, and continues for five days. IAPA has counted 21 journalists from the Western Hemisphere killed since April, making 2011 “the most tragic year for the press.”
Peruvian president Ollanta Humala will open the annual meeting, which besides violence also will delve into the possibilities of digital platforms and mobile technologies, according to EFE. Representatives from The New York Times also will discuss paywalls.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange also will participate via videoconferencing, as the IAPA congress also will debate ethics as they relate to the cases of Assange and media mogul Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., reported Sexenio. The meeting also will include panels related to the trend of anti-press laws, especially in countries like Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela and Argentina, according to Voice of America,
