“Evolving Dominican Journalism: Huchi Lora Stresses Role of Journalism in CZFS Panel”

The panel included Huchi Lora, Enmanuel Peña and Grisbel Medina.

Santiago de los Caballeros. – Wednesday August 7, 2024.- “Good, professional journalists will always be indispensable, regardless of changes in news outlets,” Huchi Lora affirmed during the Legacy and Evolution: Current, Past and Future of Dominican Journalism panel, organised by the Santiago Free Trade Zone Corporation (CZFS).

Lora explained how Juan Antonio Alix’s verses were a type of journalistic exercise, in that they reflected what was going on in Santiago and the region, socially, culturally, politically and commercially.

Aware that currently context has changed and “information is conditioned by perceptions”, Enmanuel Peña, co-founder of El Brifin; and Grisbel Medina, communications consultant and director of the Sonríete agency, also offered their testimonies on the panel.

Medina stated that media proliferation does not mean a variety of information, as “copy-paste” is a recurring practice. In addition, he said that Santiago deserves to be “better narrated” and not only be in the news because of the events or deaths. ” Media should project the initiatives, the development and the successes of the people,” Medina remarked.

Enmanuel Peña spoke about the beginnings of this news platform, which, although not run by journalists, respects sources, sticks to the facts and values the principles of good journalism. The panel was moderated by journalist Laura Peralta.

At the end, Miguel Lama, president of the Santiago Free Zone Corporation, together with members of the institution’s board of directors, presented Huchi Lora with a Merit Award, in honour of his outstanding career and more than 50 years in Dominican journalism. Lora received an engraved effigy inspired by the Moebius strip, designed by Pragmy Marichal.

Production system
Entrepreneur Miguel Lama acknowledged that one cannot speak of the impact of journalism without mentioning its crucial role in the development of free trade zones and the national productive system.

“Journalists have given visibility to these areas, reporting on its development, citing its challenges and contributions to the country’s economic growth. Their work broadcast innovation, effort and success stories, but they also highlight opportunities for improvement and critical elements that the sector has gone through,” said Lama.