On the topic of press freedom, he urged openness and awareness of how technological evolution is affecting the public’s ability to be informed and drew attention to countries such as Mexico where reporters face increasing restrictions and continuous threats to their safety. “Far too many journalists today are killed just for doing their job,” he said.

Meanwhile, digital media growth continues expanding, but not enough to replace the rate of print media contraction, and print media is still very much present in certain sectors. In Latin America, for example, print advertising revenues actually increased 4.9% last year, while they declined in all other regions around the world. Globally, WAN-IFRA estimates 2.7 billion people still read print newspapers, which is one-third of the world’s adult population.

Brunegård closed with a review of what he called, “Hot Topics Right Now” in digital media evolution: ad blocking, big acquisitions and valuations, Apple and Facebook news feed development and branded content. He urged more entrepreneurship in media to advance our understanding of these areas and how they strengthen the right to free speech.

Chronicle by Ulysses de la Torre