In brief

On November 26, the Venezuelan National Assembly passed a controversial new law on responsibility in radio and television. The legislation regulates broadcasts that promote violence, sexual exploitation and racism. This has been controversial in a country where the private mass media openly backed an unsuccessful April 2002 military coup. The Venezuelanalysis website reported on December 7 that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the new law aimed "to democratise the oligarchy-controlled media and to begin to halt the media terrorism which supports coup d'etats, fascism and terrorism". Since the constitution adopted in 1999 legalised previously outlawed community radio stations, there has been an explosion in community media.

From Green Left Weekly, December 15, 2004.

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From GLW issue 610