The International Discussion Series is back (in-person)! The Bechtel International Center will be hosting 5 international journalism fellows at the center every Wednesday until May 10th. Our next talk, on May 3rd, will feature Ecuadorian journalist Desirée Yépez, who will be discussing democracy and press freedom in Ecuador. Lunch will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. RSVP below. For more information on the speakers and discussion topics, check out the event posting here. This is a series and will take place every Wednesday at 12 PM.

Talk Description 

On Press Freedom Day, it is urgent to recognize how in fragile democracies, such as those in Latin America, organized crime also attacks press freedom. Ecuador’s scenario is becoming alarming.

Between 2021 and 2022, murders in Ecuador increased by 82%. One of the main reasons is the presence of international drug cartels that are fighting for power. In the middle, journalists covering this reality without safety guarantees are one of the targets. As seen in countries like Mexico, the goal is silence.

Speaker Profile

Desirée Yépez is an Ecuadorian journalist, author, and press freedom advocate. She is a JSK 2023 Fellow at Stanford. One of her books, Nos faltan tres: historias urgentes, reflects on the story of three journalists kidnapped and murdered in the border between Ecuador and Colombia (2018). She has worked on safety strategies for journalists working in risky situations in Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Bolivia.