Perfil director says media faced pressure during meeting at Argentina’s Congress
In Argentina, a parallel meeting of the Chamber of Deputies’ committee on freedom of expression was held on September 11. It was organized by the committee’s vice-chairs, Nicolás Trotta of the opposition Unión por la Patria bloc and Lourdes Arrieta of Provincias Unidas, together with other lawmakers. Participants raised the issue of the official committee’s lack of working meetings and the challenges facing journalism under President Javier Milei.
As the Buenos Aires Times writes, Perfil director Rodrigo Lloret, who spoke at the meeting, said that the publishing house had faced pressure from the president and his entourage. According to Lloret, after Noticias magazine published a story about Milei’s dogs, presidential adviser Santiago Caputo warned the editorial team that publishing such a cover would be considered a declaration of war.
Lawsuits and advertising
Lloret also noted that in an interview on April 9, 2024, Milei called the Perfil newspaper a “rag” and said that the company was heading toward bankruptcy. According to him, Editorial Perfil subsequently filed several lawsuits against the president, including over damages, interference in the activities of a private company, non-payment of debts for state advertising, incitement to violence against journalists, and defamation of the publication’s founder Jorge Fontevecchia.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
The Perfil director claims that the government discriminates against his media group in placing advertising. He cited data from the financial statements of state energy company YPF: its advertising spending amounted to 31,749 million pesos in 2023, 97,110 million pesos in 2024, and 128,838 million pesos in 2025. Lloret claims that formal advertising placement through the Media Secretariat was suspended, but advertising funds are being directed through YPF, Aerolíneas Argentinas, and Banco Nación.
Attitude toward journalists
Lloret said that Milei’s insulting remarks toward journalists who criticize his policies have become regular. At the same time, he stressed that the current situation is not the worst period for journalism in Argentina’s history.
According to the Perfil director, the government also closed the press room for journalists at the Casa Rosada presidential palace. Lloret reported that journalists are approaching the committee on freedom of expression with a proposal to mark Journalists’ Day on December 13, in memory of the importance of the questions journalists ask government representatives.
