Attacks on the Press 2001: Venezuela
During 2001, supporters of President Hugo Chávez Frías clashed with the opposition over the government’s political and economic policies, while in December the business sector called for street demonstrations to protest anti-business legislation. Venezuela’s political situation–along with Chávez’s popularity–appeared tenuous at the end of the year.
Journalists accused of complicity in global drug trade
New York, March 22, 2002—The Venezuelan state news agency has sparked widespread furor by accusing three local independent journalists of involvement in an alleged global drug trafficking conspiracy controlled by international banks and political leaders from developed countries. On March 13, the state information agency Venpres published an opinion piece on its Web site (http://www.venpres.gov.ve)…
State regulatory commission investigates television station
New York, October 24, 2001—CPJ is alarmed that the Venezuelan National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) is investigating Globovisión, a 24-hour news channel, to determine whether the station violated media broadcast regulations by reporting “false” news. Conatel could fine the station or suspend its license temporarily or permanently. On September 29, Globovisión reported that nine taxi drivers…
Horacio Verbitsky: Awardee 2001
HORACIO VERBITSKY is one of Argentina’s leading investigative journalists, and a columnist and press freedom activist. He has built his distinguished career by fearlessly exposing government corruption and battling restrictive press laws. A working journalist since 1960, Verbitsky’s relentless pursuit of a story has earned him his nickname el perro, or the dog. In January 1991, Verbitsky…
CPJ Alarmed by Venezuelan High Court “Truthful Information” Ruling
New York, June 21, 2001 — In a letter sent today to President Hugo Chávez Frías, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed alarm about the Venezuelan Supreme Court’s recent decision that issues criteria for “timely, truthful, and impartial information” and specifies how this right may be exercised. “We are deeply concerned that Venezuelan officials…
Attacks on the Press 2000: Americas Analysis
BY EXPOSING CORRUPTION, POLITICAL INTRIGUE, and massive abuse of power, journalists in Peru helped bring down the regime of President Alberto K. Fujimori last year. Fujimori’s dramatic fall demonstrated that the Latin American press remains a key bulwark against leaders who continue to use subtle and not-so subtle means to control the flow of information.…
Attacks on the Press 2000: Venezuela
THE ANTAGONISTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MEDIA and President Hugo Chávez Frías, coupled with some alarming legal developments, prompted CPJ Americas program coordinator Marylene Smeets to visit Venezuela in October to investigate the situation. Read her special report on Venezuela. The report concludes that the president’s verbal fusillades seem to have given the population and authorities…
Venezuela: Preocupan al CPJ amenazadoras declaraciones de Chàvez
Su Excelencia: El Comité para la Protección de los Periodistas (CPJ, por sus siglas en inglés) se encuentra alarmado por los numerosos casos de acoso e intimidación contra la prensa venezolana que hemos documentado durante las últimas seis semanas.