Panamanian Journalists Meet To Discuss Freedom of Expression And Other Issues (Meeting Infiltrated)
One hour ago journalists from various news media outlets gathered at the Metropolitan Curia to address the issue of attacks on some journalists through social networks by supporters of the government. At the meeting the president of the Journalist Association of Panama, Grisel Betancourt said someone had "infiltrated" the group of journalists gathered, and because of this they could not meet their objective, because they had previously decided to not make any judgement against the government in the meeting. It is expected that in the meeting they will install work tables to treat the most common problems of journalists, such as the freedom of expression, as well as smear campaigns and defamatory statements. (Dia a Dia)
Editor's Comment: The idea that a group of journalists can get together in Panama to agree on anything is sort of ridiculous. First of all, they are all employees of one company or another. The owners of these companies have all taken sides with one of the three major political parties in Panama - the PRD, Panameņistas, and the CD. For example the La Prensa newspaper is 100% Panameņista, the Panama America newspaper is 100% CD, and the channel 13 Telemetro news broadcast is 100% PRD. What happens is that sometimes the lower level journalists don't necessarily agree or support the policy or politics of the owners - and that's the case with channel 2 TVN. So, what you end up with is a mish-mash of conflicting loyalties mixed with economics (money and pay) and politics. I'm beginning to think I'm the only truly independent and neutral journalist in Panama - and I don't go to their meetings.
