IAPA: Hemisphere Press Freedoms 'Weak,' U.S. Climate a Concern

By: Mark Fitzgerald Surveying press freedom over the last six months in the Americas, the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) concluded Tuesday that "working conditions remain dangerous and press freedoms are weak in many countries in the hemisphere."

But then, the association added in its official conclusion to its 61st General Assembly that that is a "situation that carries over year to year without exception."

The downbeat assessment was due to the "unprecedented wave of violence against reporters" in Mexico, continued repression in Cuba, government mischief against the press in Venezuela -- and, IAPA added, "growing concern of the ability of U.S. journalists to protect confidential sources."

The IAPA's conclusion echoed comments heard frequently in the corridors of this meeting of newspaper editors and publishers from across North and South America: "Debate about press conditions in the United States usually has been minimal (at IAPA) when compared to the more difficult circumstances confronting journalists elsewhere in the Americas."

This time, though, delegates were clearly alarmed by the jailing of New York Times reporter Judith Miller. The organization also expressed concern about the increasing rate at which the U.S. is classifying government documents as secret or sensitive.

One relatively bright spot, ironically, was Colombia, which over the past 25 years has had the highest number of journalists killed on duty. For the first time in nine years, there was not a single assassination of a journalist or media worker in the six months between IAPA's mid-year meeting and its annual assembly. "Over the past 18 months, there has been a notable drop in killings and violence against journalists," the organization reported.

The IAPA also noted, however, that "the climate of violence may be diminishing as a result of growing media self-censorship," particularly outside of the capital, as well as judicial harassment. More than 100 civil lawsuits were brought against Colombian journalists in just the last six months, the reported noted.

The organization also found troubling events in Mexico, where at least three journalists have been killed and one is still missing along the Mexican border with the United States. "Drug traffickers and corrupt security forces vying for control of territory "have repeatedly targeted the media and journalists," it said.

IAPA delegates closed their meeting Tuesday by naming as honorary president Scott C. Schurz, president of Hoosier-Times, Inc., a subsidiary of South Bend, Ind.-based Schurz Communications Inc. Robert U. Brown, the former owner of Editor & Publisher, was reelected honorary chairman of the association, which he helped found.