Media and Democracy in the Americas II: #NoSoyTuEnemigo
The past year has seen both new and old threats to freedom of the press in the Americas. The rise of politicians that decry and demonize a free press has led to violence against journalists and a climate of fear and self-censorship. Deliberate, malicious disinformation–so-called “fake news”–disseminated over social media and otherwise has influenced national elections, polarizing and radicalizing social and political views and eroding consensus and community ties. More than ever, journalists are being targeted both online and on the ground for exposing crime and corruption and holding leaders accountable.
At this critical time for freedom of expression in the hemisphere, the Inter-American Dialogue is proud to partner with Fundamedios USA, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Reporters Without Borders, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Pan-American Development Foundation, and the Inter-American Society of the Press (SIP) to present “Media and Democracy in the Americas II: #NoSoyTuEnemigo.”
The event will open with a cocktail reception at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) alongside an exhibition of photography by Paul Rivas, photographer for the Ecuadorian newspaper El Comercio. Rivas was kidnapped and killed in March 2018 along with Javier Ortega and Efraín Segarra, two other correspondents, while reporting on the violence caused by illegal armed groups in Ecuador near the Colombian border. Reports indicate all three were murdered by a FARC dissident group.
Follow this event on Twitter at #MediosyDemocracia2, @The_Dialogue, @RSF_inter, and @fundamediosUSA.
March 6, 2019
6:00 – 8:00 pm — Opening Reception at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Location: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, 1889 F St NW, Washington, DC 20006
March 7, 2019
Conference at the Inter-American Dialogue
8:30 am – 9:00 am — Opening Remarks
Welcome:
- Michael Shifter, President, Inter-American Dialogue (@MichaelShifter)
- César Ricaurte, Executive Director, Fundamedios (@CesarRicaurte3)
Speaker:
- Edison Lanza, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Inter-American Commission for Human Rights (@EdisonLanza)
9:00 – 10:15 am — Panel 1: #NoSoyTuEnemigo: The Impact of Anti-Media Rhetoric
Moderator:
- Gustau Alegret, US News Director, NTN24 (@GustauAlegret)
Speakers:
- Carlos Fernando Chamorro, Director, Confidencial newspaper (@cefeche)
- Maibort Petit, freelance Venezuelan journalist (@maibortpetit)
- Maria Elvira Dominguez, Director of El Pais Cali; President of the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA)
- Lori Montenegro, Washington Correspondent, Telemundo
10:15 – 10:30 am — Coffee Break
10:30 – 12:00 pm — Panel 2: “Fake News” and Other Digital Threats to Democracy
Moderator:
- Claudia Uceda, Washington Correspondent, Univison (@ClaudiaUceda)
Speakers:
- Michael Camilleri, Director, Peter D. Bell Rule of Law Program, Inter-American Dialogue (@camillerimj)
- Julia Lima, Coordinator, Protection and Security Program, Artigo 19 (Article 19 Brazil)
- Roberto Rock, former Director, El Universal
- Desire Yepez, Journalist, Ecuador Chequea (@Desireeyepez)
- Paul Farhi, Journalist, Washington Post (@farhip)
12:00 – 1:00 pm — Panel 3: The Status and Future of Protection Mechanisms for Journalists
Moderator:
- Natalie Southwick, Central and South American Coordinator, Committee to Protect Journalists (@nsouthwick)
Speakers:
- Edison Lanza, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Inter-American Commission for Human Rights (@EdisonLanza)
- Pablo Elias Gonzalez Mongui, Director, National Unit of Protection, Colombian government
- Pedro Vaca, Executive Director, Colombian Foundation for the Free Press (FLIP) (@PVacaV)
- Sebastian Salamanca, Defense and Protection Official, Article 19
Please note that Panels 1 and 3 will be held in Spanish without interpretation. Interpretation will be provided for Panel 2.