DOCUMENT RESUME ED 222 417 SO 014 305 AUTHOR Harris, Robert TITLE United States-gexico Communication Media Symposium. Report of a Wingspread Conference (2nd, Oaxtepec, Mexico, November 13-16, 1979). INSTITUTION International Press Inst.,.Pittsburgb, Pa.; Johnson Foundation, Inc., Racine, Wis. PUS DATE Apr 81 - NOTE 29p.; For a related document, see SO 014 304. Photographs may not reproduce clearly in microfiche or papercopy. SponsOred by the American Committee of the International Press Institute and Asociacion de Editores de Periodicos Diarips de la Republica Mexicana with assistance from the Mexican Social Security Institute. EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Economic Development; Energy; Exports; *International Relations; *Mexican American History; *Migration; *Press Opinion IDENTIFIERS *Mexi,co; *United States., ABSTRACT Representatives of the media of the United States and Mexico discussed issues concerning the expanding interdepend'ence of the two countries, including trade and development, energy, migration, bilateral and regional relations, and the role of the press in these affairs. Some suggested perspectives include (1) images of the past are the biggest source of misunderstanding between the two countries; (2) many Mexicans believe that the United States is mainly interested in Mexico for its oil reserves; (3) immigration is the single most pressing factor in bilateral relations; and the problem can't be erased through unilateral measures; (4) news services prejudice many issues,in the bilateral relationship; (5) Mexico is having an increased impact on its neighbors and is fourth on the list of U.S. trading partners; and (6) U.S.-Mexican relationships have benefited from the perceptions of equality and nondependence. The symposium provided opportunities for increasing understanding between MeXico and,the United States and for 4 diminishing the misperceptions that have hampered these relations. (Author/NE) s ***************t.ic***********i***************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best th'et can be made * from the original documint. * ********************************************************** ************ - 4 U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NATIONAL INSTITUTE OFEOUCATION EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER IERIC) t , c?.. Drc.ar rkrz, i TIss f1tkuntent hes beenreproduced as recemot from the person orordandetion or9natel Mmor tryeyes Nye been madeto yroproye teprod000tt iLtafflY Punts of wee, or oprelomSte ted in this docu ment 00 'rot netessar4 represedt officraINIE poseton or poky "PERMISSION TOREPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTEDBY I-A07 71714/stek, TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES SECONIx. INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." UNITED STATES-MDcIC0 COMMUNICATION MEDIA SYMPOSIUM' Held at Oaxtepec. Mexico Sponsored by Asociacion de EditOres de Penodicos Dianos de la Repubhca Mexicana and The American Committee of the International Press institute with dssistance from The Mexican Social Security Institute and The Johnson Foundation November 13-16. 1979 1 Report-Prepared by Robert t-larri-s J UNITED STATES-MEXICO COMMUNfCATION MEDIA SYMPOSIUM wo_ uu p21 PREFACE Tlhemeeting place in Mexico was Oaxtepec. ,a place that had been a favorite retreat of Montezuma (Moctezuma) and later In March 1979. The Johnson Foundation joined with the the site of the Hospital de la Santa Cruz (1569) Today. American Committee of the International Press,Institute (IPI) Oaxtepec is a splendid national resort convention center in a symposium of medtb leaders from Mexico and the United operated by the Mexican Social Secunty Institute States, The symposium was held at Wingspread. the At Oaxtepec the discussions that had begun at Wingspread educational conference center of The Johnson Foundation in contirtued in greater depth Racme. Wisconsin That meeting opened a conversation long et. merdue A great deal of appreciation is due to many individuals awl institutions in Mexico especially to the management and Participants hoped that the fruitful discussions begun at personnel of the Mexican Social Security Institute and to Wingspread would lead to continuing contacts. communication Mexico City Mayor Carlos Hank Gonzalez -- for making the and exchanges between representatives of the media of the meetings possible in such beautiful settings and for two countries unforgettable hospitality that included opportunities to see Continuation of the discussions came more quickly than had places of great cultural interest and Aoutstanding performances been at first expectecl. In July 1979. word was received that of miisic and dance Mexican media leaders ;;ould like to organizeIf-fleeting to The syrposium concluded with a 'reception at Los ['mos. the follow Mexican President Lcipez Portillo's September visit to residence of Mexico s president PresidentLopez Portillu told Washington The American Committee of IPI and The the conference participants that the subjects of the symposium' Johnson Foundation were invited to organize United States followed closely those discussed in Washington by the two participation for a November 1979 meeting m Mexico heads of state He said he was pleased that commumcation was taking place openly on these topics between media leaders of the two countries and urged on-going I. communication as essential in solving problems that exist The report that follows illuminates the current relationship (21. between Mexico and the United States Thu frank discussions recorded here took place between leaders uf the media an government of the two countries They point to differencsf p. perception growing out of different histories The views expressed suggest how sharing perceptions can lead to seeing some issues in new ways. to better mutual understandingand. v as President Lopez Portillo stated. lo.sulution ofproblems. both long-term problems and new ones arising out of new realities In providing information and influencing public attitudes on matters important to relations between the two countries, the media play a significant role This report will be of interest to journalistsIt will also be of interest to citizens on both sides of the border' who a're interested in prymuting understanding and cooperation between Mexico and the United States Presuhmt .1,7se Ip e 7 Portal() of Memco greets WIlharn Block ewe harrna,f the Interrintionol Press Ihstattle and other leaders o( the Henry Halsted )axtepet Sc.r»p,SII/In Vice President The*Johnson Foundation 3 continuation of a dialogue between journalists. We3 L'70 0)-- Lq7.0 VW 0-2 04 MO 0)0 WV W0 Enrique Ramirez y Ramirez Richard H Leonard FOREWORD - There could be no denying that the media has a great task in There was something about Oaxtepec that prompted clear putting the relationship of the countries injrue perspective and thinking and frank discussion creating a two-way cultural flow Maybe it was the resemblance tu Shangri-La, the idyllic utopia Oaxtepec way continuation of a dialog between journalists uf rno%.ie faml Oaxtepe.c was a magic setting, profuse with ,which began at Wingspread in Wisconsin How successful was tropical flowers, sparkhng fountain§ and pools, grass and trees it? In the words cif Ramirez y Ramirez, "In the span of this as green as emeralds, a bright sun made comfortable by a seminar more in depth,things have been said about both our cooling breeze countnes than have been said in many years by American and Mexican newspapers, magazines and books . Mexican and United States-journalists met in a lofty conference to.wer with a commanding view which included Ramirez y Ramirez also spoke of "tremendous and final need distant volcanoes for us to coexist minimizing differences. eliminanng injustice." What better place could theye have been to make an intellectual assault upon a formidable wall formed by more For Ratnirez y Ramirez. the effort ended with his death in than 100 years oi non-communication, reiterated hostihty sand August 1986. distrustThose were the words used by Enricide Ramirez y Ramirez of El Dia to describe the lack .of understanding For the other participants, the challenge remains to achieve between Mexico and the United States the goals of coexistence outlined so well in the spell of Oaxtepec,, Th6re was open and honest talk about instinctive anti- Americanism in Mexico. and greed for oil in the U S that was creating new mterest in its neighbor to the south Richard H.Leonai There appeared tCibe general agreement that people on both Chairman sides of the bqfder looked at each other in ocist ways and American C-ommittee really haven't ome to know each other deeply International Press Institute UNITED STATES-MEXICO COMMUNICATION MEDIA-SYMPOSIUM &P, KO M.? GU 62 W.) @P. Uf-9 Ws 01. A 1111.=111_ Nak '4F 411k Enhque Ramirez y Ramirez editor, El Dia, addressin'j the symposium 4 r4t 4 Y. ..o'pportunities for diminishing the misperceptio that have hampered this relationship for so long. UTM q-P &6-73 fj WP WO g5515 M -PJ (FM 7=0 V-V M-QP THE OAXTEPEC REPORT' Journalists and media leaders from te United States and Asociacion de Editores de Penodicos Dianos de Mexico. Mexico met November 13 lb 197 . for ?heir second United States Charge d'Affaires John Ferch presented symposium ctri U S IVIexican relations The meeting. held at operung remarks on behalf of the American partiopants He the Mexican Social Security Institute's beautiful yacation and spoke pf developments in the two countries and the conference center at Oaxtepec 70 Titles south-of Mexico consultative methanism put into erfect by Presidents Jose Citycontinued the dialogue that had begun eight rnonths Lopez Portillo and Jimmy Carter after their first meeting. in earlier at Wingspread. the confererke center of The Johnson Washington in 1977 Foundation at Racine. Wisconsin Consultative. Mechanism Many of the subjects discussed tr.* and development, Members of- the Consultative Mechanism working groups are energy migrantm bilateral and regional relations:and the role in daily contact on trade. migration. environmental, scientific of the press in these affairs were the same as those that and fishing affairs. and maqopther aspects of the relationship arose at the first conference Theyi are issues that will be on born of a 2.000-mile common border.