The fourth edition of the Press Freedom Symposium organized annually by the Demarcation of Lleida of the Catalan Association of Journalists together with the University of Lleida, took place on May 2 and 3. This plenary dealt with the responsibility of the media and the journalist before the conflict, in the information treatment of victims (tragedies, gender violence, childhood), as well as on the issue of diversity (LGBTI, immigration, religious fact).

The day began with three simultaneous workshops where they exposed analysis on the information treatment of local and international media and discussed the role of the journalist in society. This activity was attended by professionals, academics and undergraduate, master and doctoral students from different universities.

With regard to the Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Xavier Ramón, professor and researcher of the Communication Department, linked to the POLCOM research group, was in charge of moderating the workshop "Responsible Journalism to Victims", in where it was emphasized on the need for the media, whether public or private, to combine the right of citizens to receive complete and contextualized information about social reality, taking into account a series of fundamental issues, as: respectful treatment of people in situations of pain and suffering, respect for privacy and the right to their own image, as well as the protection of children´s. 

They also discussed the precaution to be taken in the treatment of matters of special social sensitivity, such as gender violence or suicide, avoid sensationalism and spectacularization, but also not incur other bad practices, such as attacking the presumption of innocence.

During this session the importance of attending to deontological codes and specific recommendations to guide professional practice correctly was highlighted; emphasizing the great value of documents such as the recommendations on the coverage of terrorist acts, jointly promulgated by the College and the Audiovisual Council of Catalonia, the recommendations to the audiovisual media on the information treatment of death by suicide (CAC) , or the Guide for the Informative Treatment of Gender Violence (Audiovisual Council of Andalusia).

                                                                                                                  Photo: Montse Palau

Fernanda Ramírez Santos, a predoctoral researcher of the Communication Department of UPF and also, in the POLCOM research group, participated in the workshop "Responsible Journalism in Conflict", giving context to the situation of insecurity and violence suffered by Mexican society, as well as the impact that this has generated in the freedom of the press. He also presented his doctoral research project titled: The journalistic coverage of the Ayotzinapa Case in Noticieros Televisa. Analysis of the information treatment from the perspective of framing and social responsibility.

                                                                                                                  Photo: Gal·la Argelaga

In this session, moderated by Dr. Ezequiel Ramón from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, ​​the need for ethical journalism was highlighted, in its function of constructing reality, as the fulfillment of deontological principles, such as: responsibility, truthfulness, justice and freedom are of paramount importance to guarantee the quality of the information presented to the public.

International recommendations on the management and dissemination of a conflict were also highlighted. The attendees discussed the main problems and challenges faced by the journalist in the coverage of episodes of risk, emergency and crisis.

The third workshop "Responsible journalism in the face of diversity and disadvantaged groups" was moderated by Dr. Núria Ferran, professor at the Open University of Catalonia. The public spoke about the fundamental role of the media in the configuration and interpretation of the reality that surrounds us, of the social function of journalism to denounce inequalities and injustices and to transmit values ​​to citizens.

The great challenges faced by the media in the correct treatment of information on social diversity were discussed. Concluding the need to apply ethics when writing the news in order not to promote prejudice, trivialization or stigmatization of these groups or communities, since accurate information about these groups is essential for their inclusion in society.

Subsequently, the IV Symposium on Press Freedom, featured the presentations of prominent journalists and researchers who spoke of the importance of promoting responsible and transformative journalism, which follows fundamental criteria, routines and protocols when informing the public.

Through their experiences and anecdotes, the speakers emphasized the responsibility and influence of the media in the creation of an informed and critical society, committed to defending their rights and understanding public affairs.

This symposium has not only served to reflect and analyze in a rigorous way the media's treatment of complex aspects such as diversity, the treatment of victims and the journalist's responsibility in the face of conflict, it has also served to provide tools that strengthen the journalistic profession.