ASPPRO celebrates press week at CMPR

Maestro Edgar Abraham delighted those present with a heartfelt interpretation of the classic song "Verde Luz" by the recently deceased singer-songwriter Antonio Cabán Vale "El Topo".

Asppro opens dialogue on highly relevant topics with forums and workshops during Press Week – COPE 2024

The events will have a wide participation of local and international journalists 

San Juan, Puerto Rico, July 22, 2024 – In times of enormous challenges and dramatic changes in the structure of the media at a global level, the Association of Journalists of Puerto Rico (Asppro) celebrates Press Week – COPE 2024, with multiple forums and collaborative workshops with local and international journalists to open dialogue on topics of great relevance to the country.

According to the president of Asppro, Nydia Bauzá, the events will be held from Sunday, July 28 to Saturday, August 3, giving space to forums and discussions on various topics ranging from culture, the showbiz aspect of political coverage, the evolution of journalism on the Island, as well as international topics such as the situation of the Press in Gaza and the impact of Artificial Intelligence on journalistic coverage. The range of events is possible through a collaborative agreement with the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico (CMPR), where many of these workshops will be held.

“Journalism is facing a time of enormous transformations and unprecedented challenges, and in the face of this, Asppro has been, is and will be a safe bastion of strength and resistance to strengthen the skills of journalists, whether they are members of corporate or independent media. In an era of so many changes and where information is more important than ever, our mission is to anchor ourselves in our values to safeguard and strengthen the highest ethical standards of the profession, as a vital tool to protect democratic rights,” said Bauzá.

He highlighted that the day of events will be open to journalists, students, communicators and the general public, thanks to the visionary collaboration of the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico and its rector Manuel Calzada. Starting on Sunday, July 28, “we will be in the Anthony 'Junior' Soto Room of the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, starting with the topic 'Culture is news', with a varied panel of exceptional journalists who from various media and platforms cover this topic that has grown so much in the media in general.” This forum is scheduled between 3:00 and 6:00 pm while the other conversations will be held in that same room from Monday, July 29, to Wednesday, July 31, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm

According to Dr. Calzada, Rector of CMPR, the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, “it is an institution that values and respects the great contribution that the Press makes to the country in the mission of educating, informing and protecting the democratic rights of the people. Establishing this collaboration agreement with Asppro is a privilege that not only defends the mission of this important organization, but also strengthens our institution and opens our doors to an important path of collaboration for the growth of both entities,” said Calzada.

• The forums will have a wide participation of local and international journalists and will start on Sunday, July 28 in the afternoon with the topic of culture with the journalists Rosalina Marrero, Eliezer Ríos, Paula Andrea Álvarez, Mariella Fullana and Yaira Solís.
• The Monday, July 29, the workshops continue with a presentation by journalist Wafica Ibrahim of the Al Mayadeen network on the situation of journalists in Gaza and an analysis with journalist Cándida Cotto, geographer Carlos Severino and researcher of Palestinian descent, Soraya Asaad. Tuesday, July 30th, the prominent political journalists Benjamín Torrez Gotay, Celimar Adames, Luis Guardiola, Aiola Virella and Dennise Pérez will analyze the coverage and gossip in politics. Wednesday, July 31On National Journalist Day, a tribute is paid to former presidents of Asppro with a special meeting where they will analyze the organization's history with anecdotes from journalism.
• The Thursday, August 1st Asppro celebrates the presentation of the book, 'A duty of memory' by the prominent journalist Wilda Rodríguez at an event to be held at the headquarters of the Claridad newspaper, in Río Piedras.
• As part of another prominent collaboration, the Friday, August 2nd Asppro will move to the T-Mobile District, at the Aloft Hotel San Juan, for the forum Digital Innovation in Journalism and Artificial Intelligence with Puerto Rican journalist Charo Henríquez, who works at The New York Times and is also president of the Online News Association (ONA). The lawyer and journalist Rafelli González, director of the digital platform InDiario, will also participate in this forum.
• The Saturday, August 3, the XXV National Journalism Award Gala 2024 will be held at a special event at the Banco Popular de Puerto Rico Plaza.

The president of Asppro highlighted that all these events are possible thanks to these important collaborative alliances and the generous collaboration of sponsors, "who believe in and support the mission of ethical and high-quality journalism." This year, the sponsorship of Cemex, Grupo Colón Gerena, Toyota de Puerto Rico, Metropistas, Claro, Manpower, the Interamerican University, Burson Marsteller BCW, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, L'Oréal Paris, Triple S, MMM, EcoEléctrica and Publicis Puerto Rico stands out.

Events at the Conservatory are open to journalists, communicators and the general public, depending on the capacity of the room. Other events are for active members of Asppro and their collaborators.

Bauzá also announced that Asppro will announce the finalists for the 2024 National Journalism Award at a press conference this week.

Contact: Lillian Rivas, Executive Director, Asppro – 787-671-5077