5.16.2005
The Bolivarian Revolution Will Be Televised
Juan Forero's piece in the NYTimes describes Telesur, a Latin American television network hoping to counter some of the regional and global hegemony of networks such as CNN and Fox:
A venture that involves Argentina, Cuba, Brazil and Uruguay but is largely financed by Venezuela, Telesur will have a decidedly Latin feel, says its director, Aram Aharonian. The station, scheduled to begin broadcasting in July and testing its signal late this month, will show long documentaries about landless peasants in Brazil or indigenous movements in the Andes while offering nitty-gritty reports about politics and sports from Tijuana to Tierra del Fuego.I think that this part of the equation is great: I am all for much needed coverage of this sort. However, I am very wary of Chavez the demagogue turning this network into a Castro-esque state television station. His actions thus far in restricting press freedom are disturbing:
A Law on Social Responsibility of Radio and Television, signed in December, imposes restrictions that broadcasters say are aimed at muzzling news reports and requirements that they accept outside programming. The law stipulates that the news media cannot put out reports that endanger national security or incite disruption of public order.This is very troubling, and as I continue to see reports that Chavez is "building support" throughout the region (Miami Herald), I suspect that Telesur will continue to spread this misleading propanganda.
Amendments to Venezuela's criminal code, which went into effect in March, make it a crime to insult or show disrespect for government authorities.
The twin laws have already prompted self-censorship, managers of radio and television stations said in interviews. Newscasts have been toned down. Venezuela's once-incendiary talk radio has been significantly cut back, with many shows canceled.
# posted by Juanson : 12:00 AM
Comments:
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Christian,
Good article.
I think that all mass media is beholden to its paymaster(s). For example, the U.S. mass media (e.g. New York Times, ABC, NBC, CBS, etc.) never seriously challenged the merits of the Iraq War immediately before the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. Same goes for Vietnam in the 1960s, and the mini-invasions of Grenada, Panama, et al.
A news station - especially television news - is a slave to its paymaster. With Telesur, we can probably expect the usual denunciations of U.S. foreign policy, anger over the illegality of the war in Iraq, and indignation over the unfairness of U.S. policy toward Latin America. I wonder if the station would air programs on machismo in Venezuela, on cocaine production in the Andes, on racism in Argentina, wife-beating in Mexico, hatred of Nicaraguans in Costa Rica, slavery/peonage in Amazonas, or any of that unpleasant stuff. Probably not.
Just as CNN does not question the legitimacy of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Al Jazeera does not seriously question the ethics of Palestinian suicide bombing against Israeli civilians.
In the case of Telesur, we can be certain that it will not push the boundaries. Not only is the station beholden to its paymaster, but it also has to play by the rules of the "Law on Social Responsibility of Radio and Television" that you wrote about.
Good article.
I think that all mass media is beholden to its paymaster(s). For example, the U.S. mass media (e.g. New York Times, ABC, NBC, CBS, etc.) never seriously challenged the merits of the Iraq War immediately before the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. Same goes for Vietnam in the 1960s, and the mini-invasions of Grenada, Panama, et al.
A news station - especially television news - is a slave to its paymaster. With Telesur, we can probably expect the usual denunciations of U.S. foreign policy, anger over the illegality of the war in Iraq, and indignation over the unfairness of U.S. policy toward Latin America. I wonder if the station would air programs on machismo in Venezuela, on cocaine production in the Andes, on racism in Argentina, wife-beating in Mexico, hatred of Nicaraguans in Costa Rica, slavery/peonage in Amazonas, or any of that unpleasant stuff. Probably not.
Just as CNN does not question the legitimacy of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Al Jazeera does not seriously question the ethics of Palestinian suicide bombing against Israeli civilians.
In the case of Telesur, we can be certain that it will not push the boundaries. Not only is the station beholden to its paymaster, but it also has to play by the rules of the "Law on Social Responsibility of Radio and Television" that you wrote about.
Landerson,
Your point about toilets is well taken.
However, there was significant opposition to the war in Congress -and don't forget the 15 minutes of fame that Dean's anti-war campaign generated.
Hence Vikrum's point about the US media would actually reinforce "Korangate".
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Your point about toilets is well taken.
However, there was significant opposition to the war in Congress -and don't forget the 15 minutes of fame that Dean's anti-war campaign generated.
Hence Vikrum's point about the US media would actually reinforce "Korangate".
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