By Isabela Fraga
President of the Venezuelan National Journalists' Union (CNP in Spanish), Tinedo Guía, requested more protection for journalists who cover the country's legislature, reported the newspaper El Universal. On Tuesday, Feb. 5, reporters from private media organizations were prevented from covering an event at the National Assembly in Caracas.
According to Globovisión, Guía demanded the Ministry of Communications and Information and the Venezuelan legislature guarantee and respect journalists' work covering matters related to the Assembly.
"The hostility was committed through tweets and information," added CNP's president, referring to accusations of manipulating the media spread on social media, reported the website La Patilla.
It is not uncommon for private-media reporters in Venezuela to face hurdles while covering the government. Often, announcements from President Hugo Chávez are reserved exclusively for the National System of Public Media.
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
