The Changing Face of the Media in Latin America

Canning House is delighted to welcome two delegates from the FCO's International Leaders programme to discuss the important current day issue of 'The Changing Face of the Media' in Latin America.

Graco Perez is a columnist, academic and lecturer on international issues from Honduras. He is former staff member of Honduras' Foreign Service and was awarded a journalistic prize from the European Union. He is a former columnist of El Heraldo and currently writes for La Prensa. As an analyst of Foreign Affairs he is consulted regularly by journalists and the media. Since 2000 he has been a professor in private universities and recently at the College of Defense and the University of Defense of Honduras, at undergraduate and master's level.

Chumel Torres is a TV host, news Youtuber, digital influencer, and radio host from Mexico. During Mexico’s 2012 Presidential Election one of Torres’ tweets grabbed the attention of one of the candidates, turning him into a digital influencer. As a result of his new earned fame, he became an editor for a digital newspaper and a columnist at ADN Político website. Due to his success, he started touring around the country with his comedy/political show, and in 2016 he became the host of HBO’s ‘Chumel, by Chumel Torres’ and of Radio Fórmula’s midday show ‘La Una’. The BBC has named him Mexico's Jon Stewart.

This event will be chaired by James McKeigue, Managing Director of LatAm INVESTOR.

The manner in which news is presented has changed dramatically in recent years with proliferation of online media outlets as well the increased distribution of news stories through social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube, which has challenged the status quo of more traditional newspapers. This event will discuss key questions such as whether digital platforms are improving how news is reported, or otherwise; how can the rise of 'fake news' stories be halted; and are we seeing a decline in the influence of newspapers.