East Lansing, MI. 2004. Non profit organizations that support an independent journalism in Latin America organized the seminar-workshop for Journalists: Air Quality and Environment held in January 13th to 16th, 2004 in Mexico City.

Mexican and American journalists -mainly from press media- attended lectures given by specialists on health, air pollution, and freedom of information.

Dr. Mario Molina, 1995 nobel prize in chemistry discussed the present and future situation of the air pollution in the valley of Mexico. Pedro Armendares y Lise Olsen, co-founders of the Investigative Reporting Mexico (Periodismo de Investigación in Spanish) offered a course on computer assisted reporting. Dr. Ernesto Villanueva, a specialist in Freedom of Information and Kate Doyle reseacher both colaborators of the Mexican Autonomous University of Mexico analized the new Mexican law of Freedom of Information.

One of the objectives of this seminar was to encourage the attendants to create a Mexican environmental journalism association. Miguel Angel de Alba González, an independent journalist from Guanajuato with long experience on environmental coverage was elected by a group of 20 journalists as the leader of the new organization. American journalists also attended the meeting, among them: Jim Detjen, founder of the Society of Environmental Journalists in the United States, and the International Federal of Environmental Journalists; Rob Taylor, director of Science and Environmental Programs of the International Center for Journalists; Ingrid Lobet reporter with National Public Radio; Emilia Askari, former president of the Society of Environmental Journalists; Talli Numan, columnist with The Herald and El Universal; and Dean Graber, coordinator of the Knight Center of Journalism for the Americas program at the University of Texas at Austin.

Resources

PAL-NET, is a Spanish electronic network of journalists interested on environmental coverage. The objective is to exchange information and create a community that supports the professional growth of its members. PAL-NET was launched in june 2003 through the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University. PAL-NET is moderated by Susana Guzmán.

PA-ENLINEA, is a web site on environmental journalism developed by Susana Guzmán, master's degree student of journalism of Michigan State University and colaborator of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism program.

Organizers:

International Center for Journalists (ICFJ).
Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University
Knight Center of Journalism for the Americas at University of Texas at Austin
Investigative Reporters (IRE Mexico)
Center of Sustainable Development

Photo galery:

Photos: ICFJ.