Center for Media Integrity Launched at the IX Summit of the Americas

Secretary General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro, U.S. Secretary of State of the Antony Blinken, and the Executive Director of the Center for Media Integrity launch the CMIA.

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, together with Ambassador John Feeley, officially launched the Center for Media Integrity of the Americas (CMIA), a new organization to promote and support the practice of independent, non-interest affiliated, ethical journalism and social media production in the Americas. Secretary Blinken was on hand to welcome this new initiative.

The core activities of the CMIA will include:

• Recurring journalism and social media seminars for both traditional and new media content producers, conducted by the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland.

• In person and online conferences, roundtables, and workshops focused on the major issues confronting hemispheric journalism and media production.

• An incentives program for Latin American and Caribbean investigative journalists.

The Washington Post and the Fundación Gabo (Gabriel Garcia Marquez Foundation), based in Cartagena, Colombia, are founding partners of the Center.

The CMIA seeks partnerships with journalists, media outlets, academia and NGOs throughout the Americas who share its vision of a media landscape that informs citizens in a democratic society with fact-based, ethical journalism and reporting.

Secretary General Almagro, said, “It is essential for the sustainability of any democracy that citizens have relevant, factual information to make the best possible decisions. That right is being openly challenged by malicious stakeholders misusing the multiple communication technologies at our disposal these days to spread disinformation and misinformation that promote their agendas at all costs. This is threatening democracy in all our countries. Today we launch this Center for Media Integrity of the Americas to support those citizens’ right to information and invite all potential partners throughout the Americas to join us in this endeavor.”