Right of Access to Public Information and data journalism. Possibilities and limitations of its Articulation

Abstract

The Right of Access to Public Information is relatively recent and is guaranteed in Argentina through Law 27.275 of 2016. It is considered one of the fundamental pillars of democratic functioning; however, citizens often delegate their power to investigate, receive and disseminate information and ideas on journalists and media companies. The objective of this article is to reflect on the law of Right of Access to Public Information of Argentina, in terms of its possibilities and limitations when it is exercised by current journalism. It carries out a descriptive approach that recovers the theoretical guidelines and current legislation, as well as the current status of its application. Also it describes an application tool for access to information by data journalism: “El Abridor” (Chequeado). The article points out the possibilities of this journalism but warns about its over-dimensioning and highlights that it is necessary for the State to pay for the effective democratization of the Right of Access to Public Information.