Uruguayan broadcast bill could be regional model
October 9, 2013 3:35 PM ET
"Governments pass, but laws stay," said Uruguayan President José Mujica. During a meeting with CPJ, and representatives from Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders at the president's executive office in Montevideo, the political capital, the former member of...
In Correa's Ecuador, a bulletin on breakfast is routine
February 4, 2013 12:31 PM ET
On September 11, 2012, the Ecuadoran government interrupted a morning newscast on the Teleamazonas TV station for an official bulletin. What could be so urgent? A coup d'etat? An earthquake? A cholera outbreak? It turned out the government sought to...
Ecuador should scrap new media bill, draft new one
April 27, 2012 10:44 AM ET
Dear Mr. Cordero: The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about a new Ecuadoran communications bill currently under debate in the National Assembly that would roll back press freedom by promoting self-censorship and restrictions on criticism of public officials.
Confrontation, repression in Correa's Ecuador
September 1, 2011 9:12 AM ET
Rafael Correa's administration has led Ecuador into a new era of widespread repression by pre-empting private news broadcasts, enacting restrictive legal measures, smearing critics, and filing debilitating defamation lawsuits. A CPJ special report by Carlos Lauría...
Video report: Confrontation in Correa's Ecuador
September 1, 2011 9:11 AM ET
In "Confrontation in Correa’s Ecuador," CPJ’s Carlos Lauría describes the adversarial press climate created by President Rafael Correa. The video, which is in Spanish with English subtitles, includes clips of Correa criticizing the press. (3:01) Read our accompanying special...
Is Chávez promoting free expression? Check the facts
February 14, 2011 2:51 PM ET
Venezuelan Information Minister Andrés Izarra declared on the state television channel VTV last week that "never has so much been done to guarantee, promote, and drive freedom of expression than in the government of President Hugo Chávez." Izarra needs...
Ecuador interrupts news show to air official rebuttals
February 2, 2011 2:00 PM ET
New York, February 2, 2011--Ecuadoran authorities interrupted a news program critical of the Ecuadoran government on Monday to air an official rebuttal, a practice that has become standard in the administration of President Rafael Correa, according to research by the...
'Suddenly,' Chávez is on the radio (yet again)
February 10, 2010 11:37 AM ET
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez Frías has used cadenas—nationwide radio and television addresses that preempt programming on all stations—to challenge the private media’s news coverage and amplify the government’s voice. In his radio and TV call-in program, “Aló, Presidente” (Hello, President),...
Venezuela bars RCTV, 5 other stations from cable, satellite
January 25, 2010 5:13 PM ET
New York, January 25, 2010—Venezuelan regulators have ordered cable and satellite operators to stop carrying one of the country’s best known broadcasters, RCTV International, along with five other stations, alleging that the broadcasters violated a requirement to air President Hugo...
Venezuela moves to silence hundreds of broadcasters
July 22, 2009 3:42 PM ET
Dear Mr. Cabello: The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by your recent announcement that regulators may revoke the concessions of 240 radio stations for failing to update their registration papers. We believe that this decision is yet another attempt by Venezuelan authorities to expand pro-government media, control the flow of information, and suppress dissent.