Media and Democracy in the Americas VI: Independent Journalism in the Face of Democratic Decline in the Region

RSVP Now

May 21 2024

Open to the Public

Speakers

Inter-American Dialogue
1155 15 St NW, Suite 800, Washington DC, 20005

Registration
9:30am – 10:00am EDT

Panel Discussion
10:00am – 12:00pm EDT

Please RSVP to receive information about this event

Event Summary This event has passed.

This post is also available in: Spanish

In 2024, there were and will be elections in various countries in the region, indicating a possible change in trend after years of protest voting. Voters are showing a willingness to support leaders who address societal problems even at the expense of democracy and the rule of law, raising concerns about respect for democratic guarantees, especially freedom of the press.

Today, independent media in the region face significant challenges, exacerbated by the economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. Committed journalists struggle for the financial sustainability of their projects and to maintain their legitimacy in a society increasingly saturated with misinformation. They also face stigmatization by authoritarian rulers, intimidation from organized crime, and restrictions on access to official advertising. Despite these challenges, hundreds of independent journalists continue to shed light on reality, denouncing corruption, crime, and human rights violations.

As part of the sixth edition of Media and Democracy, the Rule of Law Program of the Inter-American Dialogue, along with Fundamedios, Voces del Sur, and Luminate, will organize a panel discussion on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EDT to address the role of the independent press in facing the democratic crisis in the region. What are the early warning signs of risks to the work of the independent press? What lessons have been learned about how to confront them, including how to keep information sources and communication channels open? And how can the work of the independent press be preserved in the face of current political circumstances and democratic decline in the region?

Follow this event on X (formerly Twitter) at @The_Dialogue and @FUNDAMEDIOS.

This event will be held in Spanish and will be broadcast live on Fundamedios’ YouTube channel.