Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05LIMA4775
2005-11-08 20:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Lima
Cable title:  

PROGRAM EVALUATION: FY-2005 RP: "THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA

Tags:  OEXC SCUL KPAO PE 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LIMA 004775 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ECA/PE/V/R/W (METIENNE),
INFO WHA/PDA (SLEBENS),WHA/AND (JMONSERRATE)
NEW YORK FOR ECA/PE/V/C/N (DSHIRREFFS)

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL KPAO PE
SUBJECT: PROGRAM EVALUATION: FY-2005 RP: "THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA
IN U.S. SOCIETY (January 31-February 18, 2005) E/VGW-2005-0009 -
Peruvian IV Luis Miguel GONZALEZ Rosell

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LIMA 004775

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ECA/PE/V/R/W (METIENNE),
INFO WHA/PDA (SLEBENS),WHA/AND (JMONSERRATE)
NEW YORK FOR ECA/PE/V/C/N (DSHIRREFFS)

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL KPAO PE
SUBJECT: PROGRAM EVALUATION: FY-2005 RP: "THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA
IN U.S. SOCIETY (January 31-February 18, 2005) E/VGW-2005-0009 -
Peruvian IV Luis Miguel GONZALEZ Rosell


1. DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITY: IV Luis Miguel GONZALEZ
participated in subject program to examine the role of the media
in the U.S., to explore how freedom of the press and freedom of
speech are translated into reporting on activities of the
government, public institutions and officials, business, and all
other realms of society; the significance of the First Amendment
in the exercise of press freedom, the relationship between the
media and government, and journalism education and training. The
participants examined a wide range of print and broadcast outlets
from conglomerates and national networks to specialized,
electronic, and alternative media.


2. DATE, FISCAL YEAR AND QUARTER: January 31-February 18, 2005,
FY-2005; Second Quarter.


3. MISSION PERFORMANCE PLAN THEME: Democracy (Freedom of the
Press.)


4. RESULT/IMPACT: Outstanding. IV Gonzalez was very pleased with
the exceptional program organization. He mentioned he had the
opportunity to broaden his knowledge of the mass media in
relation to U.S. citizens and institutions, to learn how private
media works and to understand better the role of public media.

"This program has given me a different view of U.S. society."
The IV thought that it was fundamental to the success of the
program to visit Washington's main institutions, such as the
White House, and the U.S. Congress (the group visited the office
of a Hispanic congressman and talked with his advisor.) The
difference between each State is particularly important to have a
better understanding of the political and economic
decentralization of the U.S. The participant was very impressed
with U.S. diversity, ethnic and cultural. IV, who is from Peru's
third largest city, considers that visiting Wisconsin and
Tennessee was extremely valuable, due to their different
realities compared to big cities. He noted their residents'
particular behavior, and learned how they handle journalism.


5. AUDIENCE REACHED: Ten participants from eight Latin American
countries. IV Gonzalez has had great experiences and has
broadened his network of contacts. The example of U.S.

journalism, its dailies in cities and states, and its relation to
Washington, has given him a new perspective for his daily work.


6. OFFICER INTERPRETERS: IV Gonzalez praised the Escort/
Interpreters' professionalism. He mentioned that "The
interpreters were first-rate. They were always very courteous,
responsible, and ready to assist the group." He is grateful to
Rene Alzamora, Martha Victoria, Javier Castillo and Carlos Hoyos,
for their kind assistance during the program.


7. QUALITY OF SUPPORT FROM ECA: Program was funded with FY-05 IV
allocation. We thank PO Ms. Martha Etienne for her wonderful
organization, coordination, and for briefing participants on
every program detail. Receiving a timely translated program
summary was very important to the IV. He praised Lima Post FSNs
Guido Chirinos and Borie Velez for their clear briefings on the
program details, and on every single aspect in relation to his
trip to the U.S.


8. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM:

In Washington, D.C.:
-- Meeting with the Vice Presidential Advisor at the office of
the Vice President.
-- The Pentagon, not only for its significance, but also for the
two conferences they had, on how the news is broadcast from the
official point of view.
-- The World Bank, because it allowed the IV to observe the new
focus they are giving to development, from the point of view of
the micro-enterprise.
-- The impressive visit to CNN, and how they perceive Latin
American correspondents.
-- USA Today and the Gannet Group, a very interesting visit due
to their vision as national dailies, and how they focus on the
news in order to sell more.
-- At the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) the visitors had
a full discussion of this topic. The presenters discussed the
First Amendment and noted that if the CPJ is appropriately
notified of cases of abuse of journalists, the CPJ will act to do
something about it.
-- The visit to the Washington Post, and sharing ideas with a
correspondent for Latin America who was departing the following
day to Iraq was defined as "an enriching experience."

New York:
-- The Wall Street Journal. IV Gonzalez was greatly impressed
with this newspaper and its extraordinarily large U.S.
circulation. The Journal's Foreign News Editor provided a
thorough explanation of the purpose of this business-economic
newspaper.
-- The educational discussion with the Dean of the Department of
Journalism and his assistants at Columbia University was
enlightening.

San Francisco, CA:
-- The San Francisco Chronicle meeting with Columnist David
Lazarus was the highlight of the city program.
-- The visit to the public radio and television gave the IV a
different view of what the public media are.
-- Mother Jones magazine was of great interest to IV Gonzalez,
especially the issues of social justice and investigative
reporting.
Madison, WI:
-- Another interesting visit was the session with the editor of
the "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel."
-- The meeting with The Daily Cardinal, written and edited by
university students, and self-financed, demonstrated what
students can do. At present, IV Gonzalez is using this model at
the University of Trujillo, where he is a journalism professor.
-- At the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Communications
Department, the conferences with Chris Long on civic journalism
and the effects of TV on children and the family, reporting and
ethics, were motivating and valuable.

Memphis, TN
-- The visit to the Memphis Business Journal was very useful. IV
Gonzalez observed independent reporting, and learned about the
Memphis historical and cultural heritage.
-- The visit to the Commercial Appeal was noteworthy. The
visitors were offered an hour-and-a-half meeting with Managing
Editor Otis Sanford, an African-American, and Michael Kelly,
Editorial Page Columnist.
-- The meeting at Memphis University with Professor Redmond
represented a stupendous experience. Dr. Redmond indicated that
journalism had become the "Fourth Power" in the U.S.


9. LONG-TERM RESULTS: This program has allowed IV Gonzalez to
apply his knowledge and experience at the University of Trujillo,
where he teaches journalism.

He mentioned that contacts with professors at the universities of
New York, San Francisco, Madison, and Memphis, are valuable for
possible educational links with the University of Trujillo. IV
Gonzales is planning to establish an educational exchange program
with Trujillo students and the above mentioned universities.


10. COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS: This program helped IV Gonzalez to
optimize the use of available resources and techniques.
-- The two home hospitality events the group had were remarkable
and pleasant.
-- IV mentioned that, although the program was excellent, it was
overloaded with too many activities with NGOs, since most of them
repeated the theme on the First Amendment.
-- The rhythm of the program was very intense. IV considers that
in some cities the meetings were repetitive, and exhausting. IV
suggests to have more flexible meetings, and appointments, and to
have some free time between meetings to provide the possibility
of walking around the city and to "rest the mind." "It is
important to consider quality rather than quantity."

STRUBLE