Notes from the media terrorism meeting:
State Venezolana de Television (VTV) president, Yuri Pimentel has added his voice to that of government colleagues, stating that there has never been such massive media manipulation and domination on planet earth. The fight is not against a small ideological apparatus, Pimentel has told delegates attending the Latin American meeting against media terrorism, but against a major mass power that characterizes American and European media. Latin American countries have become enemies of the dominant world mass media because they have chosen a different road to that of neoliberalism and pillage. The struggle, Pimentel states, is not just against media lies but the whole system of values that they impose when they try to spread consumerism.
During the meeting, there has been another call to start a grand Bolivarian newspaper in Venezuela. Argentinean journalist, Carlos Aznarez argues that each revolution needs a written media that represents the interests and thoughts of the popular classes, as a means of exercising revolutionary pedagogy and countering information sold by enemy agencies.
Mexican journalist, Jose Steinsleger says what happened during the events of April 2002 in Venezuela is confirmation that the big transnational media corporations are not all-powerful and can be defeated by a rebel people.
Cuban journalist, Roger Ricardo Luis argues that unity is the fundamental base from which to fight the media war and each country should seek its own model of press and put aside the capitalist model established by the USA. "The priority on our agenda is that it must respond to the needs of the people and undermine communication that is day-to-day becoming more and more globalised."
Venezuelan journalist, Eleazar Diaz Rangel insists that the big media are losing their influence in Latin America. The editor of Las Ultimas Noticias proposes discussion in media schools of the most recent and significant moments of media terrorism, such as the way the media treated ExxonMobil's case against Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). "It's an aggressive line that breaks all journalistic ethics and denies the truth."
In an interview on Telesur continental TV, Venezuelan Ambassador to Mexico, Roy Chaderton says alternative media sources must be multiplied to resist world media dictatorship. The Ambassador admits that the movement is in early stages and must be accompanied by the strengthening of public sector media in democratic states. The Ambassador refers to major media powers as "those private dictators" that represent the interests of the Empire ... "each lie and campaign must be pointed out and identified." Freedom of expression, he continues, must be used to fight world media terrorism and he slams the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) as ridiculous, especially its criticism of Venezuela for alleged attacks on freedom of expression. Taking the broadsheet El Tiempo de Bogota to task, the Ambassador says he remembers, while serving there, the montage of news stories produced by the Colombian Army Third Brigade extending to Cambio and Semana magazines.
US journalist, Raimundo Reinoso has criticized NBC, Universal Studios and the Walt Disney Corporation for "persistent dedication in mounting destabilizing campaigns against the leaders of emancipating social processes." Speaking at the Latin American meeting against media terrorism, Reinoso accuses the US media of being sponsored by the right-wing Ifex and Freedom House and other fronts he calls "media octopuses." Providing an interesting technical observation, the journalist points to the New York Times, recommending that news items be read backwards from the last paragraph upward because, he claims, it is free of doctoring imposed on editors and the owners. "One must read the US press, such as the New York Times always starting with the last paragraph because in the first paragraphs the information is doctored by propaganda agents."
Special Venezuelan government adviser on international media relations, Eva Golinger has summarized the proposals of the Latin American meeting against media terrorism as follows: integration of public and community television stations with Telesur to widen coverage to an international audience, creation of the following: a network of correspondents against hegemony and media terrorism, an international media current that moves towards Socialism, a new model of press with ethics and objectivity, a great Bolivarian newspaper, and network of media combat which includes a webpage, newspaper and radio station in at least three languages (English, Spanish and Portuguese) to ensure the spread of truthful and opportune information, regional centers of investigation to study themes such as manipulation and media terrorism, psychops, intervention tactics and strategies and other themes related to the defense of the revolution and finally, the recovery of media spaces for spokespersons from the grass roots.
During the meeting of the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) in Caracas, eastern Venezuelan tabloid, Correo del Caroni newspaper director, David Natera has listed aggressions suffered by Venezuelan journalists and domestic media sources, such as the closure of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) and constant threats against 24-hour news television channel Globovision. Natera accuses the government of applying pressure by other means as well, such as delaying the granting of preferential dollars to buy paper, difficulties of access to government bodies for information, and financial support for " unconditional media sources to strengthen the revolutionary media apparatus." Last year, Natera points out, the government spent 3.6 billion bolivares in strengthening alternative and community media and more than 1.5 billion bolivares to cover Cuban experts training Venezuelan professionals.
The Bolivarian News Agency (ABN) has denied an accusation launched by opposition Globovision owner, Guillermo Zuloaga that cameramen were refused entry to the pro-government Latin American meeting against media terrorism. Zuloaga made the accusation during the annual meeting of the Inter American Press Association in Caracas. The ABN replies that Venezuela has sufficient freedom to allow journalists discuss and assess what is happening in the media without the IAPA trying to intimidate them.
The IAPA has slammed the presence of foreign journalists attending the pro-government media event dismissing them as "hired hands" and "hacks," while President has dubbed El Nacional broadsheet as "ideological trash."
In other news: Primero Justicia (PJ) adjunct national secretary, Tomas Guanipa has dismissed criticism from Zulia State Governor, Manuel Rosales regarding an alleged proliferation of opposition candidates to regional posts. When Governor Rosales talks about electoral pandemonium, Guanipa quips, he is probably referring to his own party, Un Nuevo Tiempo where there are four to five candidates for each municipality in the country. Guanipa contends that Primero Justicia is not acting irresponsibly by presenting several names for same space but seeking an understanding. According to the opposition leader, PJ has made a proposal to hold talks to reach a unity agreement between the two main opposition parties regarding choice of candidates. PJ withdrew the postulation of Juan Guanipa four years ago as a unitary move, the PJ leader recalls, but now it is demanding his full acceptance as a unitary opposition candidate.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment