Saturday August 6, 2022
  • Venezuela
  • Mexico
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Podcast
Versión Español
PanAm Post
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
PanAm Post
No Result
View All Result

Home » Venezuela’s El Universal Sold, Editorial Independence on the Ropes

Venezuela’s El Universal Sold, Editorial Independence on the Ropes

María Gabriela Díaz by María Gabriela Díaz
July 4, 2014
in Free Speech, News, Society, South America, Venezuela
0
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterTelegramWhatsapp

EspañolWhat started out as a rumor, soon became a reality: El Universal, one of the largest and most influential newspapers in Venezuela, has confirmed its sale. However, what worries most readers isn’t the sale, but the buyer.

With the change of hands, El Universal joins two other large media outlets sold in the last year, and the others have had to inevitably change their editorial lines to a more “government-friendly” one. In a country that suffers from declining press freedom, emerging uncertainty and rumors about the centenarian newspaper’s future have generated intense speculation in Venezuela.

The current directors of the newspaper, founded in 1909, will clear the air tomorrow though an op-ed regarding the new group of shareholders, as well as the new board of directors. However, various sources and investigative reports claim that the owners, the Mata family, have negotiated the newspaper’s sale for at least €90 million to a Spanish buyer (US$122 million). El Universal will now be managed by a consortium and directed by Jesús Abreu Anselmi, the brother of prominent Venezuelan orchestra director, José Antonio Abreu.

Jesús Abreu, presidente de EU: Una empresa española se creó con el propósito de adquirir El Universal

— El Universal (@ElUniversal) July 4, 2014


Jesús Abreu, president of EU [El Universal]: a Spanish company has been created with the purpose of purchasing El Universal.

Employees from El Universal in Caracas were called for a meeting today at 11:30 a.m. local time, to receive key information on the newspaper’s status.

En breve el nuevo presidente de El Universal, Jesús Abreu Anselmi, se reunirá con los periodistas

— El Universal (@ElUniversal) July 4, 2014


In a few moments, the new president of El Universal, Jesús Abreu Anselmi, will meet with the journalists.

According to an investigative report in Konzapata, the new owners have direct links with emerging political movements in Spain. That includes the progressive party Podemos, led by Pablo Iglesias, and Chavista Juan Carlos Monedero. If this is confirmed, El Universal will be then be run by close political and ideological allies to the Chavista regime.

Even though the new director, Abreu, has promised he won’t change the staff, nor its editorial line any time soon, recent experiences with the sale of other prominent media outlets suggest the contrary. He has also said that the paper shortage will no longer be a problem for El Universal, as it plagues the industry, that they will be able to guarantee paper for a long time.

Jesús Abreu, presidente de EU: No hay ningún cambio en la postura editorial de El Universal

— El Universal (@ElUniversal) July 4, 2014


Jesús Abreu, president of EU [El Universal]: there isn’t any change in the editorial line of El Universal

After years of suffering high fines and numerous threats for its highly critical stand against the Chavista regime, the owners of Globovisión, the Zuloaga family, decided to sell the network for US$90 million in 2013, barely a month after Nicolás Maduro’s electoral victory. Its editorial line changed immediately.

RelatedArticles

Maduro’s Trial Falls Behind Despite Coordination Between Interim Government and ICC

June 15, 2021
Three Signs That Elon Musk Has the World at His Fingertips

15 Republicans Who Voted Against Trump Are Already Facing the Consequences

February 1, 2021

As soon as the new owners took the network, they began to dismiss the leading journalists and anchors, and give less coverage to opposition leaders, rallies, and anti-government protests. The purging process got to a point where reporters resigned en masse, denouncing that they were being censored by the new directors. Those in charge even forbid journalists from mentioning certain words such as “peaceful protests,” “scarcity,” and “repression” during their daily broadcasts.

Journalists resign from newspaper Últimas Noticias leaving signs on their office chairs that read Journalism First
Journalists resign from newspaper Últimas Noticias leaving signs on their office chairs that read “Journalism First.” (CNP)

This year, Cadena Capriles, the newspaper conglomerate and owner of prominent newspapers like Últimas Noticias, was also sold for US$165 million to Latam Media Holding property of the Hanson Group. Even though the new board of directors promised to continue with the same editorial perspective, journalists didn’t resist for too long before falling into a more sympathetic line.

“I’m not the person they need; what they need is a political apparatchik,” Tamoa Calzadilla, former head of research in Últimas Noticias, stated after she resigned.

According to Carlos Correa, executive director of Espacio Público, currently 80 percent of media outlets are private, and 20 percent are public. However, when analyzing the editorial lines, the critical stand regarding the government, and their level of independence, the proportion is exactly the opposite. Eight out of 10 outlets tend not to criticize the government, which shows the declining diversity in Venezuelan journalism.

Tags: el universal
Previous Post

Why Liberty? We Can Do Better Than the Left-Right Paradigm

Next Post

Bachelet Puts US$28 Billion on the Table for Chile Infrastructure

María Gabriela Díaz

María Gabriela Díaz

María Gabriela Díaz reported from Caracas, Venezuela, and led the PanAm Post internship program. She has a Bachelor of Arts in political science with a focus in international affairs.

Related Posts

News

Maduro’s Trial Falls Behind Despite Coordination Between Interim Government and ICC

June 15, 2021
Three Signs That Elon Musk Has the World at His Fingertips
News

15 Republicans Who Voted Against Trump Are Already Facing the Consequences

February 1, 2021
Three Signs That Elon Musk Has the World at His Fingertips
Analysis

Three Signs That Elon Musk Has the World at His Fingertips

February 1, 2021
Three Key Moments to Remind Us That the UN Is a Nest of Oppressive Regimes
Analysis

Antiracist Baby: Netflix Series Loaded with Racially Indoctrinating Children

January 29, 2021
Three Key Moments to Remind Us That the UN Is a Nest of Oppressive Regimes
Asia

Chinese Regime Silences Relatives of COVID-19 Fatalities During WHO Visit

January 29, 2021
Three Key Moments to Remind Us That the UN Is a Nest of Oppressive Regimes
Analysis

Three Key Moments to Remind Us That the UN Is a Nest of Oppressive Regimes

January 29, 2021
Next Post
Peru and Honduras Drop Visa Requirements for Tourists

Bachelet Puts US$28 Billion on the Table for Chile Infrastructure

Subscribe free and never miss another breaking story

  • Venezuela
  • Mexico
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Podcast

© 2020 PanAm Post - Design & Develop by NEW DREAM GLOBAL CORP. - Privacy policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact

© 2020 PanAm Post - Design & Develop by NEW DREAM GLOBAL CORP. - Privacy policy

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Privacy and Cookie Policy.