the Association of Argentine Press Entities (ADEPA) She expressed concern about the increasing strategies and actions of sports leaders seeking to “intimidate and silence” journalists and the media.
This situation has worsened in recent weeks, according to the organization, with the sending of documentary letters, threats of legal action, multi-million dollar lawsuits, and media campaigns directed against those working in the field of journalism. These measures are adopted to report matters of public interest that directly relate to the authorities Argentine Football Association (AFA).
“These actions came from the authorities of the AFA, including its president Claudio “Chechi” Tapia, its treasurer Pablo Tovigino, as well as from lawyers associated with them,” ADEPA said.
He added: “As ADEPA and other international journalism organizations have pointed out, these practices here and around the world (which include arbitrary compensation claims, known as SLAPPs) seek to intimidate journalism workers, restrict journalistic work, discourage investigations, and promote self-censorship. Media and social media campaigns against journalists who report on these issues seek the same goals.”
Among the professionals affected by these recent pressures are: Alejandro Alvi, Esteban Trebuk, Jonathan Vialli, Maria O’Donnell, Mario Pergolini.
“Access to information of public interest is a right of citizens, and requires that journalists be able to work without pressure or threats of arbitrary litigation and intimidation. Freedom of expression needs professionals who can investigate and report without fear of reprisal,” ADEPA concluded.