Free Press Essential to Democracy

Free Press Essential to Democracy, Latin American Journalists Say

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By Charles W. Corey Staff Writer

New York - Thirteen working journalists from 11 Western Hemisphere nations got a firsthand look at the important role a free press plays in a democratic society and witnessed the recent U.S. midterm elections, thanks to the fifth Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists.

Six of those journalists took time from their schedules November 10, on the last stop of their travel program, to talk with America.gov about their experience. The journalists began their three-week program in Washington and traveled to Norman, Oklahoma; Oklahoma City; and San Diego before arriving in New York.

All the program participants spoke about freedom of the press and the important role it plays in a democratic society.

Julieta Cambronero Molina, journalist and director at RTN News, Channel 13 in Costa Rica, said a free press stands as "the voice of the people We create opinions through this. Freedom of the press is quite prevalent in Costa Rica and is very similar to that in the United States."

She also spoke about the program's impact on her on a more personal level.

"I had never been to the United States before, so the Murrow Program has been very enriching personally and professionally. I have been able to learn what the United States is all about more profoundly in terms of its society, economy, life and political system," she said.

"The United States has very good relations with Costa Rica, and now that I have been here I realize why that is," she said. "Maybe I don't agree with everything the United States does, but we have had very good relations with the United States for a long time."

Jenny Consuelo Osinaga Camacho, press editor of the P.A.T. National Television Network in Bolivia, called freedom of the press "fundamental."

A free press plays an important role in any society, Osinaga said. The press in any society functions as a "bridge that the people have to affect change, to talk about corruption, to get to the government and talk about things."

While participating in the Murrow Program, Osinaga said, "I have seen and learned things that I did not know before, about politics in the United States, about the way of life in the United States." She found the U.S. political system to be "very complex," and was "impressed by the respect shown to its citizens and how people from all over the world can come here and make a life."

Alejandro Alvarez Silva, assistant director for the city regional secti= on of the Publico Milenio newspaper in Guadalajara, Mexico, said, "Without a free press, democracy cannot exist in any country."

"We have a problem right now, and the problem does not stem from the government but from the war against drugs," he said.

Asked about the dangers of being a reporter in Mexico right now, Silva said, "Close to the border it is almost impossible [to work as a journalist] and is really, really dangerous. In the rest of the country it is not that dangerous. However," he said, "when I go out, I try to hide my [press] credentials wherever I go."

Reflecting on the Murrow Program, he said, "I take back very, very good impressions [of the United States] and especially about the working journalist" in America, who is "respected and who has a special social status and is a pillar of society."

Richar Galdo Valdivia, producer and anchor of the Peruvian indigenous-language radio program "Ayacucho Comenta" at Estaci=F3n Wari, said, "Freedom of the press is something that we would all like as a requirement = for any country and in any society, but we have seen that there have be= en some obstacles to achieving that."

Rafael Angel Vicente Dominguez Rodriguez, director of "Foro PaEDs," an independent radio talk show in El Salvador, told America.gov that the Murrow Program is "very good. It is a timely program to train journalists about the reality of American politics and also learn about life in the U.S. so that we might be able to interpret that reality when we write our stories back home."

Diana Lora Echavarria, a journalist, producer and anchor host in the Dominican Republic, said what is good about the Murrow Program is that "you learn how Americans think."

"We have the image that you only take advantage of us. Now I think we can speak with more authority about the United States and be more balanced in our comments," she said.

The Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists invites journalists from a round the world to travel to the United States to examine journalistic principles and practices. Since its inception in 2006, the program has welcomed more than 600 foreign journalists. Participants meet in Washington, and then travel in smaller groups for academic seminars and field activities at journalism schools and at local and national media members. The program was named in honor of the legendary broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow.

One hundred and fifty journalists from 125 countries participated in th= is year's program, which is sponsored by the U.S. State Department's Bureau for Education and Cultural Affairs in cooperation with the Graduate School's International Institute in Washington. The fellows visited various American cities to observe U.S. media coverage of state politics and government, as well as American civic life and grass-roots involvement in political affairs in smaller towns.

ENDS

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