By Ingrid Bachmann
In the latest chapter of tense relations between the government and press in Ecuador, President Rafael Correa said he was "extremely content" with the ad campaign against the media broadcast during the World Cup, reported La Hora.
The campaign, estimated to cost $900,000, has been criticized by the media and press organizations. Most recently, the Ecuadorian Association of Newspaper Editors (AEDEP) called the ads very offensive and criticized the judge who rejected the legal proceedings filed by several Congress members trying to stop the campaign.
At the center of the dispute between the press and the government is the communications bill being debated in the National Assembly and that according to the newspaper guild is an attack on freedom of expression.
In response to the AEDEP's criticisms, President Correa responded: “Do they think I'm going to be scared of them?", according to AFP. Accusing journalists of lying, the president said the media has tried to undermine the bill for eight months.
The majority party has extended debate four times. According to the opposition, it has gotten to the point where votes will have to be exchanged in order to secure the bill's approval, reported El Universo.
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.
