Local Level Journalism and Democracy Indicators in Latin America

Internet is growing as a tool for the defense of freedom of the press.

The arbitrary use of public advertising is an ever more denounced practice, thus new criteria on the subject is beginning to run over the region, with more transparent policies to change the historical attitude of those who rule the use of public funds.

The open and direct confrontation of several governments with the media persists, notwithstanding the different ideologies.

As the main media outlets in a country professionalize their job covering the provinces, it is possible to see a growth in the conflict with the press.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fernando Javier Ruiz

Professor at the Seminars on Journalism and Democracy and on History and Culture of Communications, at the Austral University School of Communications.
Advisor to the Democratic Strengthening Area of the Centre for the Opening and Development of Latin America (CADAL). Ph.D. in Public Communication from the University of Navarra Degree in Political Science from the Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA).

Author of the following books:

-Otra grieta en la pared: Informe y testimonios de la nueva prensa cubana, 2003,(Another crack in the wall: Reports and testimonies of the new Cuban press) CADAL / Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
-Las palabras son acciones: historia política y profesional del diario La Opinión de Jacobo Timerman, (Words are action: Political & professional history of the La Opinión newspaper belonging to Jacobo Timerman), 1971-77, Perfil Libros, Buenos Aires, 2001.
-El señor de los mercados. Ambito Financiero, la City y el poder del periodismo económico,(The master of the markets: Ambito Financiero, the City & the power of the financial press), El Ateneo, Buenos Aires, 2001.