In Peru, Old Newspapers Live Again to Teach the Young

Xabier Díaz de Cerio recently returned to Spain after several years making infographics for El Comercio in Lima. He screened a 17 minute video documentary "Aqui Se Recicla (We Recycle Here)," which described the newspaper's innovative program to distribute infographics and visual storytelling among primary and secondary schools around the country.

Lacking resources, many Peruvian primary and secondary schools have had trouble improving literacy levels. In the documentary, teachers and administrators described the effect that infographics had in helping students grasp and retain information. The film also showed Xabier working with students to create their own visual aids on subjects in Peruvian history and culture.

Out of 10 hours of interviews, Xabier whittled the film down to an engaging 17 minutes that posed an interesting question about the short life cycle of print infographics, as well of role of newspapers in cultivating future readers.