(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – The following is a 7 June 2004 PERIODISTAS statement: Buenos Aires, 7 June 2004 PERIODISTAS mission to Tucumán On 11 and 12 May 2004, a PERIODISTAS delegation visited Tucumán province to investigate the state of freedom of expression in the province. Delegates met with journalists, provincial government officials and representatives of non-govenrmental organisations. […]
(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – The following is a 7 June 2004 PERIODISTAS statement:
Buenos Aires, 7 June 2004
PERIODISTAS mission to Tucumán
On 11 and 12 May 2004, a PERIODISTAS delegation visited Tucumán province to investigate the state of freedom of expression in the province. Delegates met with journalists, provincial government officials and representatives of non-govenrmental organisations.
During the delegation’s visit, the provincial government was deliberating on a bill that could have led to the creation of a government-owned multimedia conglomerate, thereby threatening the existence of other media outlets in the province. Tucumán journalists condemned the move as an attempt by the government, led by Governor José Alperovich, to control news in the province. The protests and joint actions by PERIODISTAS and local journalists were successful in forcing the governor to withdraw the bill from consideration.
PERIODISTAS also expressed support for Tucumán journalists’ call for a bill on access to information. The organisation stressed the importance of such a bill for civil society and journalists in their role of overseeing governments that reward silence and punish criticism.
Following the mission, PERIODISTAS published a report highlighting the methods used to obstruct free expression in Tucumán. For the full text of the report, please contact: periodistas@asociaciónperiodistas.org
