Fernando RuizProfessor of Journalism and Democracy at the Faculty of Communication of the Universidad Austral, presented his new book Journalism and the rights factory in Latin America. This is their third publication edited by CADAL (Center for the Opening and Development of Latin America), a private, non-partisan and non-profit foundation that promotes human rights and international democratic solidarity.
During the presentation, the book was described as an intensive journalism course with a solid theoretical foundation and a clear practical orientation. Conceived as a manual that synthesizes numerous specialized texts, the work is aimed especially at teachers and students in Latin America who seek to combine their journalistic vocation with a commitment to social change.
Gabriel Salvia, a founding member of CADAL, highlighted that the moment in which this work is published is especially opportune to reflect on the relationship between journalism and human rights in the Argentine context.
During the event, three presenters spoke, and the author, Fernando Ruiz, concluded with a few words about the development of his work.
Firstly, Esteban Pittaro, academic secretary and professor at the Faculty of Communication of the Universidad AustralHe proposed his intervention as ironic critiques to promote reading. His first accusation focused on the work's dispersion, as it constantly invites the reader to supplement their reflections with examples from the Argentine context, especially those in which journalists seek to give voice to the victims.
He then pointed out that the text provokes a profound unease due to the quantity and variety of quotations it includes, which can be overwhelming. He also questioned the book's level of objectivity according to standard academic criteria, since, in his opinion, Fernando Ruiz's deep admiration for journalism is evident throughout the work.
Pittaro concluded that Journalism and the rights factory in Latin America It is not a finished or definitive book, but a work in constant construction, which will need to be reinterpreted and completed as journalism evolves. Furthermore, he described the book's author as a proud Latin American journalist who seeks not only professional improvement from his colleagues, but also personal transformation. In his words: "The journalist grows as a person by engaging with victims." He concluded his remarks by calling the book an essential work.
The second intervention was carried out by Emilia DelfinoDelfino, a specialist in investigative journalism in Argentina, focused his analysis on highlighting the book's main value: its ability to encourage reflection on how journalists practice their profession today. He raised the question of whether journalism has evolved or, conversely, regressed in its professional development.
As a starting point, he mentioned the profound disconnect that, in his view, exists between Argentine journalists and the country's social reality, and stressed the urgent need to re-establish that link. He thus emphasized the importance of critically reviewing professional practices and reconnecting with social demands.
Furthermore, he revisited a key idea from another work by Fernando Ruiz, Words are actionsTo reinforce his argument, he quoted: “How aware are we that words are actions?”, thus inviting reflection on the transformative power of language in journalistic practice.
The third intervention was carried out by Olivia Sohr, journalist and sociologist, founder of CheckedShe began her remarks by expressing gratitude for the book's publication at a particularly delicate time for journalism, marked by numerous criticisms and questions about its role in society. In her analysis, Sohr highlighted how the media contributes to the hierarchy of rights: sometimes giving space and visibility to certain voices and groups, while at other times tending to silence or simply ignore them.
He warned that this prioritization is no longer solely an editorial decision, but is heavily influenced by algorithms for economic gain. These algorithms determine which topics receive public attention and which voices are heard, creating an unequal information structure. In this context, he argued that artificial intelligence only exacerbates this fragmentation, further weakening the construction of a shared reality.
Faced with this scenario, Sohr called for deep reflection. The journalist invited those present, many of them her colleagues, to consider why they chose to be journalists, why the profession matters to them, and what impact they wish to have. She affirmed that if one intends to play a significant role in society, giving voice to the voiceless and encouraging those voices to generate action, it is essential to rethink how trust is built with the public. In her words, “expanding rights is, ultimately, about giving voice.”
The book's author, Fernando Ruiz, closed the presentation, sharing some reflections on the purpose and development of his work. He explained that his approach stems from the need to analyze problems by breaking them down into their most basic components in order to better understand their complexity. He used a visual metaphor, describing rights as Lego pieces that, when assembled, give shape to democracy: a kind of clockwork mechanism where each cog fulfills an essential function. In this sense, he emphasized the importance of recognizing that newsrooms not only tell stories but also define rights.
He noted that one of the book's objectives is to help rebuild the link not only between journalism and society, but also between journalists themselves and their profession. He emphasized the need to understand how journalistic work intertwines with the democratic process and how it can contribute to strengthening it. He explained that his work focuses on the stage of voice development. Finally, he defined the book as a user manual designed to be applied in diverse contexts, with the aim of providing concrete tools for professional practice.
In conclusion, Journalism and the Rights Factory in Latin America Professor Fernando Ruiz offers a vision and a model to help prevent journalists from losing sensitivity towards people.
* Note published on the blog Public Communication of Science in Communication.
