The publishers of The Wall Street Journal and the Mexican independent newspaper El Norte will join international human rights activists and others at Michigan State University next week to grapple with critical issues surrounding press rights and human freedom in Latin America.
Peter Kann, CEO of Dow Jones and publisher of The Wall Street Journal, and Alejandro Junco of El Norte in Monterrey, Mexico, are the keynote speakers at the landmark two-day international conference to explore the relationship between human rights and press freedom in 21st century Latin America. They will join David Fern·ndez, human rights activist and rector of the Instituto TechnolÛgico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente, A.C. (ITESO), Jesuit University in Guadalajara, Mexico, in discussing the implications of the problems as well as possible solutions.
The conference will be held Nov. 10-11 at MSU's Kellogg Center.
"Almost every week, we hear of another journalist in Latin America being kidnapped, beaten, or killed," said Steven Lacy, acting director of journalism at MSU. "It's a somber reminder that issues of a free press are inextricably tied to issues of human rights.
"Indeed, it's critical that U.S. journalists and human rights activists grapple with this issue now, as economic and political ties continue to grow between the United States and Latin America. Human rights and press issues are becoming increasingly significant in defining the relationships within the Americas."
Speakers, panelists and attendees will examine past, present and future problems; the dangers of covering human rights at home and abroad; and the relationship of press freedom and technology to human rights and emerging democratic institutions in Latin America.
"As Latin America and the Caribbean enter into the 21st century, the new sets of economic, social and regional perspectives will impose a rapid transformation of the region," said Manuel Chavez, assistant director of the MSU Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. "Human rights and press freedom play a critical role on the stability of the region and in the progress of the new economic alliance of the Americas."
The conference will honor retired MSU journalism professor Mary Gardner, widely acknowledged for her pioneering work in teaching and fostering independent journalism in Latin America. Gardner, a member of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, spent much of her time in Mexico working at El Norte, which owns and operates a major national network of newspapers and news services in Mexico and Latin America.
Those wishing to attend may obtain a registration form at www.humanrights.jrn.msu.edu. MSU faculty, students and staff may attend for free but need to register. Fees for non-MSU students and professionals range from $25 to $100. Additional information regarding the conference, fees, lodging and parking can be found at www.humanrights.jrn.msu.edu.
Co-sponsoring the conference are the School of Journalism, the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, International Studies and Programs, and the Office of the Provost at MSU, and El Norte and the Inter American Press Association.
For more information, call Howard Bossen at (517) 353-4613 or at [email protected].
MEDIA CONTACT: Howard Bossen, Journalism
(517) 353-4613 or
Deb Pozega Osburn [email protected]
University Relations
(517) 355-2281
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