The conditions to practice journalism and press freedom have worsened in 11 Latin American countries in 2007, according to the first report of the Observatory in Defense of Freedom of Expression, promoted by UNESCO Chair in Communications, at Malaga University.

The most dramatic revelation of such deterioration is the murder of 18 communications professionals last year, according to the numbers provided by the Federation of Journalists in Latin America and the Caribbean (FEPALC) and included in the report. The paper highlights that there are other reasons to reach barely hopeful conclusions, Efe quoted.

Reasons include the gradual monopolization of the media in Venezuela, the government use of advertising for political purposes in Argentina, or the dangerous state of affairs imposed by Colombian guerillas and drug trafficking in Mexico.