2011: Globovision was Fined $2.1 million for TV Coverage of a Prison Riot

A riot broke out in Rodeo-2 Prison on June 2011 when some 22 people were killed as rival gangs clashed. [1] Fifty rioting inmates took some 800 inmates hostage.5000 National Guard troops were sent and surrounded the prison. The prison was located in the city of Guatire, near Caracas. Many people came out from Caracas to check on relatives who were hostages. Fires broke out in the prison; gunshots were heard. People became highly anxious and confronted the troops.

Globovision (a 24-hour news station) ran extensive coverage of the El Rodeo-2 prison riot. The TV station ran the same video of eighteen distraught relatives 269 times in four days. They added a soundtrack of machine guns being fired. They did not run any coverage of what the government was doing to resolve the crisis.[4]

The hostage situation was resolved through dialogue and denial of food and water to the prison gangs. No hostages were killed. The National Guard restored order after 27 days.[2]

On October 18, 2011, Venezuela’s National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) fined Globovision $2.1 million for violating the Law on Social Responsibility by deliberately creating a situation of uncertainty and anxiety, causing fear and provoking civil unrest by adding the sound of gunfire to its reports and encouraging families to protest and by not screening any state news to counterbalance public speculation.[6]

After its appeal to the Supreme Court was denied, Globovision paid the fine in June 2012.[5]

Human Rights Watch denounced the fine for harming freedom of expression. [3] Opposition Presidential candidate Henrique Capriles said that the Government was trying to silence independent media. [5]



     

1.    Guardian, Venezuelan government troops continue assault on riot-torn prison, June, 21,2011

2.    Venezuela’s Prison Conflict Ends Through Dialogue, Venezuelanalysis, July 17, 2011

3.    HRW, Venezuela: End Harassment of TV Station, October 19,2011

4.    Venezuelan Opposition TV Globovision Fined for Manipulation, Venezuelanalysis, October 20,2011

5.    BBC, Anti-Chavez Venezuelan TV Globovision pays $2.1m fine, June 29, 2012

6.    Globovision Appeal of Venezuelan Telecom fine Turns Into opposition protest, Venezuelanalysis, November 9, 2011

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