Western media
scoundrels waged war on Chavez. They did so throughout his tenure. Managed
news misinformation substituted for truth and full disclosure.
Chavez is gone. Misreporting continues. Post editors march in lockstep
with other media scoundrels. Doing so betrays their readers.
On March 16, they headlined "Free speech under fire in Latin America,"
saying:
Chavez "may be dead, but the offensive he led against democratic institutions
in Venezuela and across Latin America has not slackened."
"In fact, it may be accelerating, especially with regard to independent
media."
Fact check
Venezuela's the hemisphere’s most open society. America's pales by comparison.
Free expression is cherished. It's constitutionally mandated.
Venezuela's Law of Social Responsibility affirms it. It does so without
censorship. It promotes responsible programming and journalism.
It respects civil and human rights. It advances cultural values. It encourages
active citizen participation.
It tolerates dissent. It enforces acceptable media standards. Violators
face fines. Promoting coups, war, public disorder, crime, or other socially
disruptive acts risks temporary or longer-term license suspensions.
Venezuelan media giants challenge the law. They do so irresponsibly. Sometimes
they go too far. Doing so is lawless. It compromises national security.
During Chavez's tenure, Venezuelan media changed dramatically. In 1998,
broadcasting included 331 commercial FM stations.
Eleven public access ones operated. So did 36 private television broadcasters
and eight public ones.
Chavez encouraged free and open communication. Operations expanded. By
April 2012, radio stations included 499 private ones, 83 public access
operators, and 247 community ones.
Sixty-seven commercial television broadcasters operate freely. So do 13
public service and 38 community ones.
Five media giants dominate Venezuelan television. They assailed Chavez
throughout his tenure. They materially aided and abetted the aborted two-day
April 2002 coup. Globovision's one of the worst. More on that below.
In 2000, National Assembly legislators reformed Venezuela's Organic Telecommunications
Law. It affirms communication access. It does so as a human right.
It established three types of media. They include private, state and community.
In 2004, lawmakers passed the Social Responsibility in Television and
Radio Law (Ley Resorte). It prohibits inciting hatred, intolerance, racism,
criminal activity, public disorder, discrediting elected officials, and
disrepecting laws.
In 2010, it did so for Internet communications.
Venezuelan media operate freely. Chavez tolerated no less. Western media
scoundrels claimed otherwise. They still do. They misreport saying so.
They spurn professional standards. They violate journalistic ethics. The
Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics says:
"....public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation
of democracy."
"The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth
and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues."
"Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve
the public with thoroughness and honesty."
"Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility."
The Radio-Television News Directors Association Code of Ethics and Professional
Conduct stresses public trust, credibility, accuracy, truth, "reporting
anything known to be false," avoiding bias, fairness, integrity, independence,
accountability, and "responsibility to the profession of electronic journalism."
Media scoundrels fail on all counts. They serve wealth, power and privilege.
They sacrifice principle and honor. Misinformation and lies substitute
for truth. It's standard practice.
Venezuelan private media operate the same way. As long as within the law,
they're unchallenged. Chavez wanted it no other way. It's no different
now. Not according to Post scoundrels.
"Last week," they said, "the beleaguered owner of the last Venezuelan
television station not subservient to the government announced that he
was selling his shares to a businessman close to the ruling party."
In 2010, Post editors alleged Chavez forced Guillermo Zuloaga into
exile. He's Globovision's majority owner.
Fact check
He accepted a buyout offer. It’ll close after April 14 elections. He did
so for financial reasons. He said Globovision's "economically unviable
because our revenues no longer cover our cash needs."
He blamed Venezuela's government for his business failures. He said so
publicly. He lied.
He's selling to buyers headed by Juan Domingo Cordero. He's a leading
Venezuelan entrepreneur. He's an insurance magnate.
He's vice president of the Caracas Stock Exchange. He was part of a commission
created to integrate metropolitan area market activities.
He founded, directs and serves as president of the Venezuelan Institute
of Capital Markets. He has extensive business interests. He's unconnected
to Venezuela's government. Post editors lied saying so.
They claimed "(t)he silencing of Globovision will leave Venezuela with
nine television networks, including five that are state owned and broadcast
nearly incessant government propaganda that the four privately-owned channels
won’t dare to challenge."
Fact check
As explained above, Venezuela has 67 commercial television broadcasters.
They operate freely. So do 13 public service and 38 community ones.
Private ones challenge government policies ad nauseam. Public and community
ones expose their propaganda. They do so responsibly.
Post editors claim Globovision "was charged with 'sowing panic' for reporting
on an earthquake, fined $2.2 million for its coverage of a bloody prison
riot and, most recently, accused again of spreading panic for questioning
whether the delay of Mr. Chavez’s presidential inauguration during his
final illness violated the constitution - which it clearly did."
Fact check
Delaying Chavez's inauguration complied fully with Venezuelan law. Post
editors lied claiming otherwise.
Zuloaga's been living abroad since 2010. He left after Venezuelan courts
ordered his arrest. His son, Guillermo Zuloaga Siso, was charged.
It pertains to conspiracy and generic usury. It relates to irregularities
connected to their car dealership.
Conspiracy involves two or more people plotting criminal acts. Guilty
parties face two to five years in prison. Generic usury refers to concealing
facts for disproportionate advantage. It carries a one to three year sentence.
In 2009, both men got restraining orders. Zuloaga was prohibited from
leaving the country. He refused to turn himself in. He secreted himself.
He broke the law. He said Chavez victimized him. He claimed it involved
silencing free expression. Not so. It was unrelated to Globovision content.
He fled overseas. He did so to avoid prosecution. He remains there unprosecuted.
He's a fugitive. He admits he's an "enemy of the government.
Globovision's his propaganda vehicle. It turns truth on its head. In late
2011, it was fined $1.5 million. It paid eight months late. It did so
after Venezuela's Supreme Court forced compliance.
It violated Articles 27 and 29 of Venezuela's Law of Social Responsibility
in Radio and Television. Globovision's a serial offender. So are other
major television broadcasters.
In 2007, RCTV's (Radio Caracas Television) operating license was suspended.
It's Venezuela's oldest private broadcaster. A public TV station (TVES)
replaced it.
It "promotes the participation and involvement of all Venezuelans in the
task of communication (as an alternative to) the media concentration of
the radio-electric spectrum that remains in the hands of a (dominant corporate)
minority sector."
RCTV's cable and satellite operations were unaffected. Suspending one
license was far less than deserved.
Along with other dominant corporate broadcasters, it committed sedition.
It aided and abetted the April 2002 coup.
No one went to prison. Broadcasters still operate. RCTV got off easy.
One operating license wasn't renewed. It took effect on expiration. Harsher
punishment was warranted.
Venezuelan media scoundrels exceed America's worst. Globovision's a loose
cannon. It spurns public interest. It wages war on truth.
Chavez let it operate freely. He did so because press freedom matters.
Post scoundrels claimed he compromised it. They lied saying so.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive
Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.
It airs Fridays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon.
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http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour
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