La realidad informativa en EE.UU., Europa y América Latina

The analysis of the information reality in the USA, Europe and Latin America shows that the difficulties to inform and press coercions are common, especially in conflict zones. Censorship is presented in different ways and the different modalities correspond, almost always, with the nature of the political regimes and with the degree of dependence that the media have. Journalism is the only tool that many sectors have left to know the truth about corruption and to counterbalance the excesses of some authoritarian governments. From the theoretical point of view, the rules that exist in most countries seem sufficient to guarantee the freedom of information, but research on the media shows that in practice there is not always impartiality and quality in the contents. It is easy to establish the indicators and detail the characteristics that correspond to a complete, rigorous and plural information, but it is more complicated to achieve that they are always met. The lack of freedom depends more on the repressive instruments than on the theory on which the norms and laws are based, which usually have a wide margin of interpretation. Institutions, sometimes, apply censorship beyond their functions, because when they they prohibit contents without a judicial order, the Government or the State usurp competences that do not correspond to them. The media of communication have a very specific social responsibility and, therefore, can not be subject to the dictates of others, nor act or behave as mere companies seeking profitability.