Is This A Restriction Of Rights, Or A Case Of The Media Stirring S*** Up?

[Seil]

So there's this place called Venezuela, right? And in Venezuela, there's this leader guy named Chavez, right? And some people are slightly critical of this Chavez guy, right? But then this Chavez guy lays down some rules that say stuff like "There's a difference between reporting and total anti-government messages, and this TV station is broadcasting the latter. So we're not going to renew your license. And the TV station, RCTV, right, is like 'Woah, heavy.'"

TV station, Chavez at odds in Venezuela (http://www.cbc.ca/arts/media/story/2010/02/03/rctv-venezuela.html)
Anti-Chavez TV channel removed from cable (http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2007-01-01/news/0612310207_1_chavez-s-control-rctv-president-hugo-chavez)
Chavez pulls the plug on defiant cable TV channel (http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/01/25/news/a7-chavez9th.txt)

Anyways, the best source of info I've heard about any of this is on a CBC podcast, which I'll try to dig up. It was an interview of one of the people in charge of RCTV, and then a debate between an independent author writing about politics in Venezuela and a lead member of "Reporters Without Borders." I'll try to dig it up once I get out of school.

Just to paint Chavez in a different light, here he is forgiving Haiti's debt. (http://rainbowwarrior2005.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/venezuelas-chavez-forgives-haitis-debt/)

[Tev]

Has RCTV crossed the "Fox News" level of anti-government speech yet? Do they have their own Glen Beck? If not then I'd say this is more a rights restriction than anything else. I mean, we here in America keep Fox around. I think Chavez just needs to grow some thicker skin......or get a snappy comedian to mock them for a half an hour each night.

[Magus]

Well, Seil, I'd say when someone shuts down a station because they are broadcasting an "anti-government" message then it is censorship, yeah, and therefore an infringement of the universal human right of free speech (as defined by Amnesty International, anyway). There is a difference between broadcasting an opinion and broadcasting the news but if someone wants to broadcast their opinion and someone else is willing to pay them to and someone else is willing to listen, I'm not sure how anyone can shut them down in good faith.

Chavez is sort of a run of the mill dictator (heck, I'm not even sure he's a dictator, it would depend on what the government in Venezuela is allowed to do or not do based on their laws), I don't think he's like, a threat to America!!!111 like people on the news here like to make out. He's just sort of petty and anti-American. Not sure if he's murdered anybody or not, I'd have to read up on the guy.

[Geminex]

Considering that they've supported a coup, I'd say that Fox news is better. But only very slightly. And besides, give it time.

Though since their coup-supporting days seem to be over, I think this is more abuse of power and infringement of free speech.

get a snappy comedian to mock them for a half an hour each night.
We totally need to rent out fifthfiend. Give him a supply of gifs and a soundboard and goodbye RCTV.

[Pip Boy]

Do we really want Fifthfiend to have an influence on politics on any level, anywhere? Before we know it, we'll have like 2 more world wars and Russia will be developing their new secret weapon, the F-Bomb.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Considering that they've supported a coup, I'd say that Fox news is better. But only very slightly. And besides, give it time.



You mean the coup by the rich generals of the military upset at the poor people getting handouts.... yeah that one doesn't count.

As for this thing, yeah it's censorship and Chavez is a dick but it's also old news. Media just likes to beat up on Chavez. Cancelling news stations is practically a sport in Italy but we don't talk about that much because it's not as funny as beating on Chavez.

[Magus]

I thought it was more that the Italian prime minister owns all the news stations in Italy and so every single one is biased towards him. Or is he putting his competitors out of business as well if they speak against him?

[GrandMasterPlanetEater]

For perspective, Venezuela says it is doing this because the station refused to carry President Chavez' speeches. Fox News was recently airing a President Obama discussion with the GOP like all the other dominant news broadcasters, when they realized he was doing a good job and cut the feed.

I wouldn't blink an eye if you told me that one of these stations is the subsidiary of the other.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

I thought it was more that the Italian prime minister owns all the news stations in Italy and so every single one is biased towards him. Or is he putting his competitors out of business as well if they speak against him?

Well it is more than he owns all the stations and only gives out licenses to the stations that he owns.
But he is hilariously corrupt so we let him get away with it because it is funny.