VZCZCXYZ0038
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0486/01 1061822
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 151822Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0788
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000486 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SCUL KPAO KDEM AR
SUBJECT: REPORT CRITICIZES MEDIA COVERAGE OF ARGENTINE AGRICULTURAL 
CRISIS 
 
REF:  Buenos Aires 0386 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  A report released by the University of Buenos 
Aires's School of Social Sciences on April 5 sharply criticizes the 
Argentine media's coverage of the recent agricultural crisis in 
Argentina.  The timing of the report's release, however, raised 
serious concerns, as it coincided with a speech by President 
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (CFK) in which she strongly 
criticized the press and urged the media to avoid discrimination in 
their reporting of the farm strike.  The government has also said it 
will reactivate an "observatory of discriminatory attitudes," a body 
designed to monitor the media, which had been in disuse. Finally, 
Nestor Kirchner and a youth organization tied to his political 
apparatus have launched a public campaign to criticize the largest 
daily paper and media group, Clarin, for lying and abuse of power. 
All of this has set off a vigorous defense of press freedom by the 
media and media professional associations - concerned that the CFK 
administration is attempting to restrict freedom of the press.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) The School of Social Sciences at the University of Buenos 
Aires released a report on April 5 criticizing the media's coverage 
of the 21-day agricultural sector lockout (see reftel and previous 
for Embassy reporting on the agricultural strike).  Through its 
analysis of newspaper and television coverage, the School of Social 
Sciences reports that the media attempted to "portray the government 
as authoritarian, and the demands of the people (protesting) as more 
democratic."  The report declares the presence of "unacceptable 
examples of discriminatory treatment of social actors." It accuses 
the press of subtly attempting to cause destabilization through a 
one-sided approach to the agricultural crisis. 
 
¶3. (SBU) On April 4, CFK met with the school's dean, Federico 
Schuster, and invited his school to participate in an organization 
created in November 2006 "to detect discriminatory attitudes in the 
media."  This body, which is an organization under the executive 
branch, includes the Federal Committee on Broadcasting (COMFER), the 
Institute Against Discrimination and Xenophobia (INADI), and the 
Council of Women, and claims its purpose is to monitor the work of 
the free media, although it had been largely inactive since its 
inception.  Its reanimation, however, in the wake of CFK's and other 
administration officials' very critical reaction to media coverage 
is generating and concern that the GOA is attempting to exercise 
control of the media and restrict freedom of the press. 
 
¶4. (U) In her recent public speeches during and after the 21-day 
farm strike, President Kirchner sharply criticized the media's 
coverage of the agricultural crisis as biased towards the 
protestors.  While she assured citizens that they deserve to read 
varied opinions and stories, she urged the media to "reject and 
avoid discriminatory practices."  President Kirchner claimed that 
the media coverage served to increase the tension between the 
farmers and the GOA during the lockout. 
 
¶5. (U) CFK's specific anti-media remarks on April 1 come following 
the publication of a caricature of the President in leading daily 
"Clarin."  The drawing, created by respected cartoonist Hermenegildo 
Sabat, appeared earlier that day, and shows the President with an 
"X" across her mouth and, on the side of her face, the profile of 
her husband, ex-president Nestor Kirchner, alluding to the "dual 
command" of the presidency.  CFK publicly stated she was offended by 
the "X" across her mouth, which she took as a "mafia-style" message 
that she should not speak out. 
 
¶6. (U) An organization called "Youth K" led by the Kirchners' son, 
Maximo, convened on Friday to launch a public campaign against 
leading daily, Clarin and the 24 hour news TV channel of the Clarin 
media group.  Representatives from more than 40 organizations 
participated in the demonstration.  There, ex-president Nestor 
Kirchner raised a poster criticizing Clarin.  Many posters displayed 
the slogan "All negative," playing on the phrase "All news." 
Participants defended their actions saying that they only used words 
rather than violence to make their point. 
 
¶7. (U) The media has launched a vigorous defense of press freedom in 
response to presidential discourse.  In their statements, news 
sources and professional press organizations defended the right of 
the press to speak out freely, declaring that freedom of the press 
is essential for the development of a democratic society.  They 
protest that the media needs to be allowed to express information as 
well as their own opinions.  Therefore, the CFK administration 
should respect this liberty. The statements and editorial comments 
profess that the government's attempts to accuse the press of 
discriminatory articles only reinforces the media's characterization 
of the current government's authoritarian attitudes. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Comment: Both Kirchners have had a rocky relationship with 
the Argentine media.  CFK's latest comments and the creation of this 
"observatory" for discrimination in the media give credence to 
commentators' claims of the administration's intolerance towards 
those who do not share their views.  Concerns have been deepened by 
 
reports that the GOA will soon introduce a new law to govern 
concentration of media ownership.  Local and regional media 
organizations such the Inter American Press Association have 
criticized the Kirchners for several years over their antagonistic 
attitude toward the media and less-than-transparent manipulation of 
the government's large official advertising budget.  The creation of 
this new media organization continues this trend.  Embassy will keep 
a close eye on this issue.  End Comment. 
 
WAYNE