By Ingrid Bachmann
The Ecuadoran government has ramped up its media presence with the Sept. 6 launch of PP, El Verdadero (the True One), a popular (as in "of the people") publication that, in the words of President Rafael Correa, aims to "counter the de facto powers that are disguised as media" in the country, reported AFP and the news agency Andes.
The new 16-page newspaper costs .40 cents. It joins existing state media in Ecuador such as Radio Pública, Televisión Pública, the news agency Andes and the newspaper El Telégrafo, in addition to two channels confiscated from ex-bankers.
According to EFE, the new publication uses simple language and follows the example of other popular newspapers in Ecuador, although its editor, Max García, told El Telégrafo that PP, El Verdadero will not include "yellow" journalism or be slanted. García also said the newspaper will not be a propaganda device for the government and that its emphasis will be on positive news.
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.
