The president of the Inter-American Press Society (SIP), José Roberto Dutriz, expressed in an interview with the EFE Agency that constant vigilance is the best defense for journalists and that freedom of the press and expression are fundamental pillars for free and developed societies. Dutriz, who also leads the newspaper La Prensa Gráfica of El Salvador, assumed the presidency of the SIP on October 20, becoming the first Salvadoran to lead this organization that brings together 1,300 media outlets.
In a critical global context for the press, Dutriz pointed out that there are several significant challenges, such as media sustainability, disinformation, the physical safety of journalists, and verification. He emphasized that if journalism is not monitored, it is threatened. Regarding press freedom in El Salvador, Dutriz mentioned the peculiar situation of the country, acknowledging that President Nayib Bukele has publicly stated that there are no imprisoned journalists, which generally allows for critical and investigative journalism. However, the application of a state of emergency to combat gangs may limit journalistic work, acting as a form of prior censorship.
Dutriz underscored the importance of credibility and the role of the audience, awareness, and public denunciation as the main defenders of journalism. He emphasized that constant vigilance is crucial to protect journalists and journalism itself, as they do not have an army to defend them. He highlighted that freedom of the press and expression are fundamental for the development of free and democratic societies.
Additionally, Dutriz highlighted the need to address disinformation and strengthen the sustainability of media outlets. He considered it essential to educate the audience to avoid falling into disinformation, a global challenge. He also emphasized the importance of managing social media and artificial intelligence to ensure credibility, as well as data verification. Regarding media sustainability, he noted that digital transformation has affected print journalism, free television, and radio, posing new challenges to maintain the relevance and impact of media outlets.
