IPI Completes Press Freedom Mission to Venezuela

Concerns Over Access to Information and Legal and Administrative Harassment of the Media

Michael Kudlak, IPI Missions Coordinator

The International Press Institute (IPI) on Wednesday completed a four-day press freedom advocacy mission to Venezuela, during which it held discussions with leading editors and journalists from a broad range of media, as well as representatives of journalists’ associations, civil society and academia.

IPI conducted the mission to make an objective assessment of the current state
of press freedom in the country.

The IPI delegation noted with concern a continued deterioration of press freedom in Venezuela – placed on IPI’s Watch List in October 2000 – due to a climate of intimidation and hostility towards journalists and media outlets, as well as to a legal and judicial system that threatens the free practice of journalism.

The delegation also noted that the country’s highly polarised and politicised
media environment reflects Venezuelan society’s deep divisions.

While Manuel Villalba, president of the Media Commission of the Venezuelan
National Assembly, and representatives of the pro-government Periodistas por la Verdad (Journalists for Truth) insisted that press freedom is respected in the
country, numerous complaints voiced by individual journalists and
representatives of journalists’ associations suggested otherwise.

The increasingly aggressive and inflammatory rhetoric of President Hugo Chávez
and members of his administration against the privately-owned and largely
pro-opposition media may have encouraged local officials, pro-government
supporters and others to threaten, harass and even physically attack journalists and media outlets.

Moreover, the Venezuelan authorities have failed to bring to justice those
responsible for physical attacks against journalists, contributing to a climate
of impunity in the country.

Apart from verbal and physical aggression against journalists and the impunity
that accompanies such attacks, participants in IPI’s discussions complained of
an increase in legal and administrative harassment, the alleged use of
government advertising to either reward or punish media outlets, and lack of
free and equal access to information for all media.

On 1 August 2009, the country’s telecommunications administrator, CONATEL,
closed down 32 radio broadcasters and two regional television stations
indefinitely for allegedly failing to submit paperwork regarding their
ownership. This followed a 9 July announcement that the government would begin proceedings against more than 200 privately-owned radio stations – as yet unnamed – for allegedly failing to submit requested documentation to CONATEL within a three-week deadline.

Broadcasters that were not shut down on 1 August fear that they might be on the original list of 200-odd stations and could also be closed.

Six sets of administrative proceedings, initiated by CONATEL, are also pending
against the Caracas-based TV broadcaster Globovisión, which could result in the
temporary or definitive closure of that channel at any time. The country’s
oldest private TV station, Radio Caracas Television (RCTV), was closed down in
May 2007 after it was accused of violating the 2005 Law of Social Responsibility
in Radio and Television. RCTV continues to operate via cable and satellite, but
says there have been unsuccessful legal attempts to shut down its cable
operations.

Journalists also told the IPI delegation that the recent introduction of new
legislation, including the Law of Social Responsibility and the Organic Law on
Education, passed on 13 August, threatens press freedom in Venezuela and that the existence of these laws, coupled with dozens of legal proceedings against individual journalists, has led to an increase in self-censorship in the media.

Another major source of concern among Venezuelan journalists is the lack of
access to official information. Critical media outlets are denied interviews
with President Chavéz, members of his administration, and other officials,
journalists told the IPI delegation. They are also allegedly unable to access
government buildings or offices, or report from the National Assembly.

With the exception of National Assembly Deputy Manuel Villabla, the IPI
delegation was unable to meet with members of the Venezuelan government or
ruling party.

“The fact that Venezuelan authorities refused to meet with the IPI delegation
provides a good example of lack of access to information in the country,” said
IPI delegation member Galina Sidorova.

“Access to information is essential to any functioning democracy and IPI urges
the Venezuelan government to ensure that members of all media are allowed free and equal access to official information. We also call on the authorities to
stop using legal and administrative measures in their apparent attempt to
silence critical reporting.”

The IPI delegation was comprised of IPI Executive Board Member Galina Sidorova, editor-in-chief of the Russian monthly investigative magazine, Sovershenno Secretno, and IPI Mission Coordinator Michael Kudlak.

IPI will release a detailed report of its findings in January 2010.

For further inquiries on Venezuela, please contact Colin Peters, IPI Press
Freedom Adviser for the Americas, at IPI headquarters in Vienna (Tel: + 431-512 90 11; Email: cpeters@freemedia.at).