The forum is being moderated by Mark McDonald, a broadcast journalist-in-residence from AU's School of Communication. The panelists at tonight's forum are:
- Jose Carreno, U.S. correspondent for El Universal
- Rick Rockwell, SOC professor and co-author of Media Power in Central America
- Paulo Sotero, a 2003 graduate from SOC's Journalism & Public Affairs masters program and Director of the Brazil Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
This reporter will provide live updates as the panelists speak tonight.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7:02 p.m.-
The forum begins.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7:14 p.m.-
The panelists discuss the role of American media in Latin America, and how that role has changed in recent years.
Carreno: The American media has been extremely important to the development of democracy in Latin American media, but in the last few years, that role has been dramatically reduced. "It's alot of hit and miss."
Rockwell: "It's the image of a bull in a china shop -- when we come in, we come bursting in. But we're not in there at the most important times."
Sotero: American newspaper coverage of Latin American issues is usually fair and balanced, but many newspapers do not have Latin American correspondents because of budgetary issues. American television coverage, however, is often"repulsive and racist."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7:25 p.m.-
The panelists discuss what Latin American topics actually get covered by the American media.
Carreno: American media often focuses on domestic affairs, so Latin Americans usually emerge when their issues coverge with American domestic issues. At this moment, two of the issues on the forefront in the U.S. are immigration and terrorism. He now draws no distinction between CNN and Fox News. "I was an admirer of CNN...now, for whatever reason, they are looking to public opinion and giving the audience what it is demanding."
Rockwell: CNN was known for lots of international coverage in the 1990s, but that sort of reporting has been reduced. "I watch more BBC now than I have in the first five years. I'm not getting the news I want from NBC [and other American networks] in terms of Latin American coverage."
Sotero: The issue of immigration has been covered on American media in a way that increases controversy. "When you let polls decide what you're going to cover, you have ceased being a journalist."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7:30 p.m.-
The panelists discuss which American media outlets have good coverage of Latin America, and comment of recent coverage of a supposed "leftist" trend in Latin American politics.
Carreno: Los Angeles Times, New York Times and NPR are some of the organizations that have good coverage of Latin American issues.
Sotero: I have fun reading about this Latin American "leftist" trend. I'm debating whether this is really something new or not. "If you read The New York Times, L.A. Times, they will give you that." They are sophisticated and fair in their coverage.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7:38 p.m.-
Rick Rockwell discusses why some topics are not covered fully in Latin American media.
Rockwell: "The problem that remains is that there is self-censorship. Folks feel that they cannot speak their mind in the newspapers, on T.V., on the Internet, because they fear reprecussions from advertisers" and others.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7:44 p.m.-
Paulo Sotero discusses how organized crime has been the major factor in the deaths of journalists in Brazil.
Sotero: Organized crime is what kills journalists in Brazil. "There are certain days in Rio and Sao Paulo where there are more people killed than are killed in Baghdad." Journalists get killed for reporting about issues concerning organized crime groups in Brazilian cities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7:48 p.m.-
The panelists discuss the effects of a lack of U.S. media correspondents in Latin America.
Rockwell: It's better if you have a diversity of coverage, because it gets more nuanced.
Carreno: The scarcity of sources means there is a loss of detail in coverage of these issues.
Sotero: "I don't care if a member of the media is coservative liberal; I care if they are professional."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7:58 p.m.-
Jose Carreno and Rick Rockwell discuss the current violence in Oaxaca, Mex.
Carreno: The Oaxaca situation was a local issue which was mishandled and became violent. "It is despicable."
Rockwell: Mexico's South is very different form the Mexican North. "The Mexican South was burning well before Mr. Calderon came into power."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8:00 p.m.-
The forum ends.
