CARACAS.- In Venezuela, Today June 27 is the Day ofl Journalistbut those who exercise the profession in this country under the Maduro regime Remember the high cost that can be paid, even with jailfor informing about particularly political and economic issues.
According to the National College of Journalist, a guild that groups it, there are 16 reporters and press workers imprisoned as political prisoners Until last May, “for fulfilling your work or raising your voice against injustices”, according to a message in its X account
Of the total apprehensions, eight are arrests practiced by police forces until May 2025, six for 2024 and one, in 2022.
Most of them are victims of violations of the right to defense and due process, and in some cases their whereabouts are unknown for more than 100 days, according to complaints of relatives and lawyers.
In addition, freedom restrictions on independent media They are increasingly severe, and are even subject to “blocking” of their digital editions or accounts by networks, which has taken them in cases to self -censorship or the basic informative report, according to members.
The situation is considered alarming by international organizations, such as SIP, which demand the freedom of journalists and respect for expression rights.
Venezuela almost without independent means
“Venezuela is one of the countries with the most restrictions on freedom of expression, governed by an authoritarian regime that has captured democratic institutions and is responsible for systematic violations of human rights,” says an Inter-American Dialogue report on the Venezuelan situation, published last February.
The report said that in that country more than 400 independent media have been closed, through administrative measures, in the last two decades, which is interpreted as “a state policy” that threatens freedom of expression and the exercise of journalism,
The situation has also generated a worrying loss of jobs that lowers the voice of information about national events.
The situation is aggravated by the closure of community media, although Conatel has regularized a percentage of them. However, the general trend has been the closure of independent media, which has contributed to a crisis in Venezuelan journalism and the loss of jobs. In addition, censorship and administrative restrictions imposed by public institutions and security forces have been denounced.
One of the first closed and most emblematic media was the RCTV television (Radio Caracas Televisión) to which Hugo Chávez did not renew its signal in the air in 2006, for being critical of the policies, and finished its transmissions in May 2007, 18 years ago.
Between 2008 and 2023, at least 405 media were closed, including printed newspapers, radio stations and television channels, it was reported.
