2010: Two Newspapers were “Censored” for Two Days for Publishing Graphic Images

On its August 13,2010 front page, the newspaper El Nacional published a full-page photograph of naked corpses at Bello Monte morgue in Caracas under a headline about growing insecurity in the Country [1]. The photo was reprinted by another newspaper, Tal Cual, on August 17. Morgue workers told the press that the photo was taken without authorization and was a violation of the privacy rights of the deceased and their Families.

The photo had been taken in December 2010.El Nacional editor and owner Miguel Henrique Otero admitted that the photo was held back from being published until the “right moment.” Legislative elections were scheduled for September 26, 2010. Otero was very critical of the Government and the photograph’s publication was seen as an attempt to influence voters by calling attention to Venezuela’s high crime rate [2]

A group of citizens, including Litbell Diaz, President of the National Institute for the Rights of Children, protested before the Attorney General’s Office and demanded that children be protected from such violent images. Late on August 17th, the 12th Tribunal of Caracas ordered that the print media was prohibited for one month from publishing violent, bloody or grotesque images [1] On August 19, El Nacional printed the word “censored” across a white space on its front page.

In an interview on CNN en Espanol, Otero claimed that the publication of the graphic image was part of “free expression.” He also stated that he decided to publish the photo because Venezuela was “one month away from elections” and “we are in campaign mode”.[2] CNN would not show the image since they considered that it could perturb viewers and is too graphic to show.” [2]

National and international media accused the Venezuelan government of censorship and restricting media freedom [3] Representatives from the United Nations and the OAS said that the decision compromised the right to free expression. [4] On August 19 the 12th Tribunal Court lifted the order banning Venezuelan media from printing violent photographs. [4] Two prosecutors were appointed to investigate whether El Nacional and Tal Cual had violated provisions of the Law.

In August 2013, El Nacional and Tal Cual were issued fines by a Caracas court for publishing the morgue photos in 2010. The papers were found to have violated The Protection of Children and Adolescents Act which prohibits the publication of material “unsuitable for children or adolescents “without providing forewarning to viewers [5]

 


1.      Reuters, Venezuela bans papers from printing violent photos, August 18, 2010

2.      Golinger, Eva, Media Pornography, Venezuelanalysis, August 20,2010

3.      Venezuelanalysis, Venezuelan Court Retracts in Graphic Image Controversy, August 21, 2010

4.      CNN, Venezuelan judge says newspapers can print violent pictures, August 20, 2010

5.      Venezuelanalysis, Venezuela’s El Nacional and Tal Cual Newspapers Fined for Explicit Morgue Photographs, August 9, 2013

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