Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Weekly Debate: Venezuela and the media

At midnight on Monday, Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) ceased operations (for all intents and purposes) after the Venezuelan government declined to renew the network’s broadcasting license. Hours after the RCTV shutdown, the government denounced CNN and Globovision for spreading “lies” and misinformation against Hugo Chavez. Venezuelans have spent days protesting for and against the measure, and anti-Chavez protesters denounced government troops that shot tear gas and rubber bullets at them.

So what do you think about Chavez' decision? Is his opposition to RCTV censorship or correct? Will he go after other media outlets or just this one time against RCTV? Will opposing media be more or less anti-Chavez due to the RCTV situation? Are the problems between Chavez and the Venezuelan media worse than conflicts with the press in other Latin American countries?

Please feel free to give your opinion by voting in the poll located on the sidebar and/or by leaving a comment to this post.

What’s your opinion?

Sources- CNN, Guardian UK, The Latin Americanist, BBC News

Image- BBC News (Pro-RCTV protester in Caracas, Venezuela)


4 comments:

Unknown said...

Like a few of your other anti-Chavez/Fidel-worded posts, your poll is slanted against him. As has been noted on the Latin America News Review blog, for example, that station was instrumental in the coup against Chavez. Even in Bush's America, I'm pretty sure aiding a coup attempt against a democratically elected pressident would cast a negative light upon that news outlet. In short, what the RCTV did was far, far more then the mere "propaganda" you mention in the poll.

Or maybe I just shouldn't be reading this right-wing blog...

Miguel Centellas said...

I agree that RCTV was supportive of the 2002 coup. But I wonder why Chavez chose to attack the entire station (not just its managing board) w/ the move ... especially considering that no charges have been filed against RCTV or its management over the 2002 coup (even more surprising, since clearly Chavez would get a favorable ruling, if he did).

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