Decepción y Coraje: El Artículo de National Geographic

[Ecuajey]

Decepción con un cuadro 'deforme'

viernes, 7 de marzo de 2003

Por Yaritza Santiago


Los sectores turístico y gubernamental expresan su indignación ante la percepción 'distorsionada' de Puerto Rico en la publicación de marzo de National Geographic. En la foto Rick Newman.
(J. Ismael Fernández)

INDIGNACION, DECEPCION y coraje son algunas de las emociones que siente la industria turística local en relación al artículo sobre Puerto Rico publicado en la edición de este mes de la revista National Geographic, ya que proyecta al mundo una imagen "distorsionada" de la Isla como destino turístico y de negocios.

El artículo, escrito por el reportero Andrew Cockburn, además de hablar sobre la situación política de Isla y la situación de Vieques, presenta el problema de drogadicción y habla sobre la celebración de ritos de santería. El reportaje está acompañado por fotos impactantes, tales como el sacrificio de un gallo y un drogadicto inyectándose.

La página de Internet en que también puede leerse el artículo es www.nationalgeographic.com.
Según varios entrevistados, el artículo es "desbalanceado y negativo", no responde a la realidad de Puerto Rico y tendrá un efecto negativo en la industria turística.

Esta situación ha provocado una lluvia de cartas al editor de la publicación, William L. Allen, por parte de varias organizaciones del país y el Gobierno de Puerto Rico en las que expresan su rechazo al artículo.

Rick Newman, presidente de la Asociación de Hoteles y Turismo de Puerto Rico, expresó su indignación con el escrito, ya que éste podría influenciar en la decisión del turista de venir a la Isla, más aún cuando existe incertidumbre ante una posible guerra.

"El turista que lea esto podría tomar la actitud de no visitar la Isla porque pensará que se confrontará a una realidad que no es", destacó Newman. "Los males sociales existen en cualquier parte del mundo, pero el reportaje no está balanceado sino que casi todo lo que dice de nosotros es negativo".

MIENTRAS, JORGE Pesquera, director ejecutivo del Negociado de Convenciones de Puerto Rico, expresó que el mercado de grupos y convenciones en la Isla también podría afectarse, más aún cuando la revista, que tiene una circulación de más de 7.8 millones de ejemplares a nivel mundial, se distribuye a un mercado potencial para Puerto Rico.

"Me preocupa que un planificador de eventos que lea el reportaje cuestione la lógica de venir a hacer eventos aquí", expresó Pesquera.

Por su parte, el Gobierno de Puerto Rico está evaluando estrategias con consultores de relaciones públicas en los Estados Unidos para contrarrestar la imagen distorsionada que alegadamente proyecta la publicación.

"El Gobierno ya está tomando las acciones correspondientes para reivindicar la imagen distorsionada que intentó proyectar esta publicación, por lo que enviaremos una carta oficial del gobierno al editor de la publicación expresando nuestro rechazo", expuso Milton Segarra, secretario del Departamento de Desarrollo Económico y Comercio.

Entre otras acciones, se está considerando invitar al editor de la revista y a periodistas de la misma a Puerto Rico, y que altos funcionarios del Gobierno, incluyendo el comisionado residente en Washington, Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, se reúnan personalmente con la Junta Editorial de National Geographic para presentar su punto de vista sobre el asunto.

[Camano]

I found the article interesting. What about you Ecuajey?

[Ecuajey]

Originally posted by Camano
I found the article interesting. What about you Ecuajey?

I only read an excerpt on the website and the photographers commentary, which I found even more interesting. I wrote on the website's forum and voted on it as well, you should do the same. It was a bit contraversial at the univision.com forum as well and I knew after that it would be in PR.

The article is a little balanced, but they could've mentioned a little more about what PR offers to the world and the USA, instead of the usual, "Puerto Ricans are citizens, they can't vote for President and serve in the military, but don't pay taxes."

What I read so far and heard, I learned nothing new from. My Spanish Teacher (Non-Boricua, very leftist and a hispanic assimilant) said the same thing. She offered to let me read it, because I couldn't find it in the stores that I went to, but her daughter cutted it up and used it for a project. My friend (Non-Boricua) told he would let me borrow his, but he hasn't finished reading it. He learned something, because he's someone who isn't Boricua and knows nothing about the island, which I think the magazine was targeting since most of their readers are non-Boricuas.

[L_F_Miranda]

The National Geographic article continues to follow a steady pattern. In a proportion of about 10 to 1, the American press has been historically against any form of annexation. In fact most of the American press thinks we are fine the way we are. Most Gringos don't know what were're whinning about. They always say, "You don't pay Federal taxes, what more do you want?"

And by the way, has any one here read any support for Statehood from the American press lately?

[Ecuajey]

Locals Appalled By Controversial Article In National Geographic

By EVELYN GUADALUPE-FAJARDO

March 6, 2003
Copyright © 2003 CARIBBEAN BUSINESS.
All Rights Reserved.

Puerto Rico was prominently featured on the cover of the March 2003 edition of the Spanish-language version of National Geographic magazine, but most island residents wish it hadn’t been. They felt the story "True Colors: Divided Loyalties in Puerto Rico," written by freelancer Andrew Cockburn, was biased and didn’t project the island positively.

"I didn’t see any redeeming value in the article," said Rick Newman, president of the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association. "Rather than being objective, it appeared the writer had a mission to find all the negative aspects of the island."

The very beginning of the feature infuriated many, prompting some local executives to send letters to National Geographic challenging it to return to Puerto Rico and conduct the review in a way that is respectful of the great accomplishments of Puerto Ricans.

Besides quoting a government official in San Juan who noted cynically that the whole island would vote for independence if the bars remained open on election day, Cockburn conversed with heroin addicts in La Perla who assured him that the high price of a fix compared with what it costs in New York is "another example of the unfair trade relations between Puerto Rico and the U.S."

Others quoted in the story include lawyer Hector Gonzalez Pereira; political analyst Juan Manuel Garcia Passalacqua; Ricardo Alegria, founder of the Puerto Rico Institute of Culture; artist Carmelo Sobrino; economist Elias Gutierrez, and Frank Stipes, president of Westernbank.

"Obviously, any negative publicity affects the destination," said Jose Suarez, designated executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Co. "This is an anthropological report that presents some of the realities of our island and of most parts of the world that have social problems."

Perhaps the biggest problem is that National Geographic readers are the affluent people whom the Tourism Co. spends millions of dollars each year to lure to visit Puerto Rico.

"We are going to react appropriately to this article," Suarez said. The Calderon administration hadn’t issued a response as of press time Monday.

CARIBBEAN BUSINESS, however, did speak to Cockburn about the article. He said he visited Puerto Rico having no preconceptions and merely reported what he saw.

"People tend to go on about how interesting Cuba is, but the reality is that Puerto Rico has terrific people and an interesting culture," said Cockburn, who noted that he had previously visited the island on brief business trips. "The island is more stimulating than I imagined."

In some of his field notes, found on the website http://www.nationalgeographic.com, Cockburn writes that he visited a heroin-shooting gallery in San Juan to observe Jose Vargas Vidot, a physician who operates a needle-exchange program.

"I thought Dr. Vargas was an interesting and commendable person, unlike other people who turn their noses and like to pretend a place like La Perla doesn’t exist," Cockburn told CARIBBEAN BUSINESS. "Puerto Rico shouldn’t be ashamed of La Perla; it is a fascinating place. I think it’s a great mistake if Puerto Ricans think they have to cover up and pretend [the island is] some kind of Disneyland."

Raul Bustamante, chairman of the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, said he hadn’t read the article but better pictures of the island could have been taken. "What I dislike most is that these types of magazines always portray the worst of the Caribbean and of South America," he said. "There are prettier things that could have been photographed, rather than drug addicts, sacrifices of chickens, and protesters."

The website also contains the field notes of photographer Amy Toensing with a special eight-minute "Sights & Sounds presentation of photos under the categories "Cross Cultured," "Drug Hub," "Choosing Sides," "Stop the Bombs," "Island Rhythms," and "Feminine Strengths."

"Let us introduce you to the contradictions, challenges, and cultural flavor of Puerto Rico," the photo presentation begins. "Join Amy Toensing and explore a land where politics is called the ‘national sport’ and pride in being Puerto Rican runs deep."

"I wanted to put a face on these people who are very connected to the U.S. but not quite seen because of an unbalanced relationship," narrates Toensing. "I wanted to give them a voice and a face."