Sergio Sarmiento, President of Caminos de la Libertad, a Grupo Salinas Project to Support Freedom, Addresses the Institute of the America's Freedom of Expression and Journalists' Rights Seminar

Sergio Sarmiento, President of Caminos de la Libertad, a Grupo Salinas Project to Support Freedom, Addresses the Institute of the America's Freedom of Expression and Journalists' Rights Seminar

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Salinas is proud to announce the participation of Sergio Sarmiento, one of Mexico's most influential multimedia journalists, in the Institute of the America's Freedom of Expression and Journalists' Rights Seminar, a five-day journalism workshop on investigative journalism organized by the Institute this week for journalists from throughout Latin America.

The seminar is held at the Institute of the Americas, on the campus of University of California, San Diego, with a day-long session in Tijuana.

"We're excited to have Sergio Sarmiento with us once again at the Institute of the Americas. He has unique insight into the Mexican political system and is one of the country's most respected journalists," said Ambassador Jeffrey Davidow, President of The Institute of the Americas.

"We at Grupo Salinas are committed to fulfilling the mandate of our Chairman Ricardo Salinas Pliego in promoting freedom of expression throughout the Americas. We thank Ambassador Davidow and the entire staff of the Institute of the Americas for making this happen," said Luis J. Echarte, Vice President of Grupo Salinas and Chairman of Azteca America Network.

The investigative journalism workshop, which is directed by Institute of the Americas Vice President S. Lynne Walker, includes presentations by:

Vicente Calderon, Director of TijuanaPress.com; Dora Elena Cortes, founder of Agencia Fronteriza de Noticias (AFN); Elliott Spagat, Director of the San Diego Regional office for San Diego/Tijuana of the Associated Press (AP); Francisco Castellanos, investigative reporter for Proceso magazine; Carlos Lauria, Director of the Latin American program of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ); Adela Navarro Bello, Co-editor of Zeta Newspaper; Raul Ramirez Baena, President of the Comision Ciudadana de Derechos Humanos del Noroeste; Amy Isackson, border reporter for KPBS Radio; Victor Clark Alfaro, Director of the Centro Binacional para los Derechos Humanos; Tony Cavin, Producer for CBS; in Washington and Marc Cooper, professor at USC's Anneberg College.

About Grupo Salinas

Grupo Salinas (www.gruposalinas.com) is a group of dynamic, fast-growing and technologically advanced companies focused on creating shareholder value, contributing to building the middle class of the countries where it operates, and improving society through excellence. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies TV Azteca (www.irtvazteca.com), Azteca America (www.aztecaamerica.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx), and Grupo Iusacell (www.iusacell.com). Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. However, member companies share a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance.

   For more information, visit www.gruposalinas.com    Grupo Salinas Press Contact:   Daniel McCosh   52 55 1720 0059   dmccosh@gruposalinas.com    About The Institute of the Americas  

The Institute was founded in 1983 to improve the opportunities for and relationships among companies and individuals who currently conduct or hope to conduct business in the Americas. The Institute brings together business and government leaders in forums designed to facilitate the exchange of ideas, seek ways in which they can collaborate to clarify the rules and regulations necessary for private activity to flourish and implement effective policy.

   Institute of the Americas Contact:   Lynne Walker   Vice President   lynne@iamericas.org   858-964-1712  

Source: Grupo Salinas; Caminos de la Libertad; Institute of the Americas

CONTACT: Daniel McCosh, Grupo Salinas, +011-52-55-1720-0059,
dmccosh@gruposalinas.com; or Lynne Walker, Vice President, Institute of the
Americas, +1-858-964-1712, lynne@iamericas.org

Web site: http://www.gruposalinas.com/

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