Opinion | Better than that

The Inter-American Press Association (SIP) held its bi-annual meeting in Cartagena and generally examined the situation of the continent in terms of press freedom. Few changes: the first freedom – that of expression – generates anger and is the motive for the most sinister efforts against those who claim to be tutors and even masters and lords of the rest of their peers and their peers. fellow citizens, to those who wish to lower them condition of subjects, without the right to inform themselves and to express their ideas and opinions without any hindrance.

The news, in general, is bad: the struggle for freedom of expression is continuous: the owners of the truth do not disappear; on the contrary, they swarm, grow and multiply. The good news is that they are less the owners of the truth of the Bolivarian left-wing progressive and populist line. But yes, those who remain – Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia – have done away with freedom of the press and free journalism; The right to information is limited to the limited access of inhabitants to this information authorized by the dictator, the head of department. But not only is this side bleeding. Other owners of other truths also seem that, in their condition as such, claim or have the intention to impose it, so we must be vigilant. And there are no minor problems. Even the journalists themselves, or journalists allied with politicians or politicians playing the role of journalists or vice versa, are fighting over the task of controlling what their peers – who do not forget – can or can not can not know or can not say. In the "Conclusions" of IAPA, among many threats, it is stated that "the mandatory professionalization of journalists does not end up disappearing in the legislation.In Colombia, a law to restore the professional card is underway and in Ecuador, the norm has been maintained in the already approved reform of the law on communication ".

Is article 13, paragraph 1, of the Covenant of San José of Costa Rica – Inter-American Convention on Human Rights – respected, which establishes that everyone has the right to freedom of thought and freedom of thought? Expression. This right includes the freedom to seek, receive and disseminate information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of their boundaries, whether orally, in writing, in printed or artistic form, or in any other manner of their own. choice. "

One of them said that it was a matter of judgment, as is the case with the Inter-American Court itself, but the "aspiration" of some journalists, experts and academics persists that the right to information and freedom of expression becomes a reality. managed and controlled by those who know and are "received". A kind of privilege – the great privilege! – and patent at the same time. To say what we think, inform and express what we want, for example vote in elections, it is not necessary to own a title. He was born with them.

The new eras and the Internet have spoiled these elitist dreams and, whether one likes it or not, the opportunities for citizens to exercise the rights mentioned above have been greatly expanded. Luckily. This does not mean that other pests have not appeared simultaneously or in parallel. Overflows, abuses of power, abuses of public officials, especially presidents who attack and insult the press and journalists through networks, are multiplying and reported. These Twitter gentlemen do everything that journalists and the media have never done. In turn, the "platforms" come with theirs, which generates the temptation to censor and regulate.

During the meeting, he was also highlighted "the economic crisis affecting the press companies" and stressed "that the economic health of a media is essential to preserve its independence and make good journalism". And in this respect, the SIP has failed: the press, the traditional media, are essential to the validity of democracy. They continue to mark the agenda, have the greatest credibility for that. Dictators have always tried to stifle newspapers economically, and other enemies eliminate derogations so discreetly, with discriminatory treatment of official advertising and other more subtle methods. And for something that is. It's now about supporting the press. It is a good that the free society can not lose. Ultimately, it is in any case to subsidize democracy.

The author is a Uruguayan journalist. He was president of SIP.