Radio Netherlands’ Latin American department is organising an international radio conference in Mexico, together with the Mexican network of public broadcasters. The theme of the congress is regional integration, the influence of the media on this process and national identity. The congress is taking place from 4th-7th May 2005 in the Anthropological Museum in Mexico City, and is primarily intended for media representatives in Latin America.
Over four days, media specialists and politicians will hold readings and seminars in Spanish. The speakers will include Cees Hamelink (Professor of Communications and Media at the Free University in Amsterdam), Armand Mattelart (Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Paris), Sergio Ramirez Mercado (Nicaraguan foreign minister during the Sandinist years) Dante Caputo (former Argentinian foreign minister and main author of the UNDP’s most important report on democracy in Latin America) and Monsignor Gregorio Rosa Chavez (Suffragan Bishop of San Salvador and former assistant to Bishop Oscar Romero)
At the same time, eight workshops will be given on a variety of themes, including the influence of integration processes, corruption in the region and the media’s ethical responsibilities. The congress can be followed through video footage on the conference website: www.informarn.nl
Countries support integration process in order to strengthen regional ties and also to increase their influence on the international community. José Zepeda, head of Radio Netherlands’ Latin American department, explains: “Regional integration processes can have a positive influence in developing countries, at least if they apply the right politics. Regional integration can help promote democratisation. Encouraging integration processes is definitely a task the media should be involved in.”
Another important topic at the conference is the dialogue between different integration processes, for example the dialogue between the European Union and Latin America.
Radio Netherlands’ Latin American department is collaborating with the “Red Nacional de Radiofusoras y Televisoras Educativas y Culturales de Mexico”, the network of Mexican public broadcasting organisations.