ENGLISH VERSION
A poco menos de una semana para la consulta popular y referendo convocada para el 07 de mayo, el gobierno ecuatoriano ha dedicado una serie de cadenas nacionales para descalificar a los medios de comunicación y a los periodistas, a propósito de la celebración del Día Mundial de la Libertad de Prensa.
Un ejemplo de ello es la cadena, que fue emitida el 02 de mayo con una duración de 9 minutos y medio y bajo el slogan de “La verdad sea dicha”, que se enfocó en descalificar el tratamiento noticioso que le dan los medios a ciertas informaciones; al tratamiento editorial, y a las relaciones inter empresariales de los propietarios de medios y el conflicto de intereses generado .
El espacio de gobierno aseguró, con una narración en off que “los medios olvidan y dejan de lado las normas básicas y el mínimo rigor indispensable en el ejercicio periodístico y que, de tanto decir una mentira, puede convertirse en verdad”.
Asimismo, 03 de mayo de 2011, el gobierno ecuatoriano dedicó una cadena nacional con una duración de 12 minutos, enfocada a descalificar a medios y periodistas y cuestionar su papel que, según el gobierno, es de actores políticos y de oposición.
Government broadcasts a series of chain programs against journalists and the media during the days leading to the popular consultation
A little less than a week before the popular consultation and referendum called for 7 may, the Ecuadorian government has dedicated a series of national chain programs to discredit journalists and the media regarding the celebration of World Press Freedom Day.
An example of this is the chain broadcasted on 2 May that lasted 9 minutes and under the slogan «The truth be told», focused on discrediting the way some information is presented by the media, their editorial content, and the business relations of media owners and the conflicts of interest they generate.
A voiceover stated that “the media forget and disregard basic rules and the minimal rigor that is indispensable in the exercise of journalism; a lie that is repeated often may become the truth”.
On 3 May 2011, the government dedicated another national ‘chain’ that lasted 12 minutes to discredit journalists and the media and question their role which, according to the government, is that of political actors of the opposition.
Two questions about the media are included in the 7 May popularconsultation.One of them seeks to limit the possibility that media shareholders and directors may participate in any other economic activities, while the other one presents the possibility of creating a regulatory council that can censor “sexual” or “violent” contents in radio, TV and the written press, as well as imposing criteria of “ulterior responsibility”, i.e. applying sanctions to journalists and media outlets.