Argentinian press expresses concern for lack of freedom of expression in the country

The Argentine Association of Journalistic Entities (ADEPA in Spanish) highly criticized the state of freedom of expression in Argentina on a report published last Thursday, March 29, stating that although freedom of expression does exist in the South American country, “it develops in a context of low tolerance for criticism,” where monologues, verbal aggression and fear proliferate.

The report discussed various topics of concern that journalists in Argentina face, such as the criticism of the law that regulates the production, distribution and import of newsprint paper, the need for more press conferences, and the need for a freedom of access to public information law, the newspaper Clarín reported.

Although Argentina ranked 48th (out of 179 countries) on the Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index 2011-2012 report, compared to 57^th for the United States, one of the issues that has caused the most concern is that of the law that controls newspaper production, which was approved in December 2011, according to the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas.

There were also several abuses to the press in 2011, which the Argentine Journalism Forum (FOPEA in Spanish) documented, the Committee to Protect Journalists noted on their Attacks on the Press in 2011 report.

Concerned about all these issues, the president of ADEPA, Carlos Jornet, asked the government for more open dialogue and tolerance toward the media, stressing that the value of open dialogue and freedom of expression are “tools for strengthening democracy.”