The proposed Law Against Racism and All Forms of Discrimination, introduced by President Evo Morales, was the target of journalist protests in 11 Bolivian cities on Friday, Oct. 1, the newspapers Los Tiempos and La Prensa report. In Potosí, journalists and news media went on strike for 24 hours, leaving the city without information, La Patria says.
During the chaotic episode that began with the police and military protesting and ended in what President Rafael Correa called a coup attempt, Ecuador's media was forced to simulcast the official version of events via a forced link with the state's official channels, reported El Mundo.
The intensification of campaigns as we near Brazil's election day - Sunday, Oct. 3 - has provoked journalists and activist groups to release competing manifestos on freedom of expression and the behavior of the media, Carta Capital magazine reports.
In the lead-up to the Oct. 3 Brazilian elections, industry groups have released reports documenting threats to free expression in the country.
Thirty armed police officers in Tocantins state attempted to stop the circulation of Veja magazine for reporting on allegations involving the state’s incumbent gubernatorial candidate, Carlos Gaguim (PMDB), writes Veja blogger Reinaldo Azevedo.
Beto Richa (PSDB), a candidate for governor of Paraná state won an Electoral Court ruling preventing media outlets from publishing poll results by several media outlets including Vox Popili, commissioned by TV Bandeirantes; Datafolha, commissioned by Folha de S. Paulo; and Ibope, commissioned by RPCTV; Terra and iG report. The polls had not changed their methodology since they originally registered with the Electoral Court.
An injunction by the Regional Electoral Court in Tocantins state says 84 media outlets are not allowed to publish or broadcast news about a criminal investigation into the state’s incumbent gubernatorial candidate, Carlos Gaguim (PMDB), writes Veja reporter Reinaldo Azevedo. Gaguim’s campaign team formally complained to the court that such reports involved the use of journalism with the political goal of supporting rival candidates.
Google this week released an online digital tool designed to track censorship around the world, according to the BBC.
The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas has created a map depicting media censorship in Brazil leading up to the Oct. 3 elections for president, governors, and federal and state senators and representatives.
The Electoral Court in Mato Grosso state issued an injunction against the state’s largest media company, Gazeta, preventing it from publishing stories that say acting Federal Deputy and current Senate candidate Carlos Abicalil (PT) supports decriminalizing abortion, A Gazeta and Folha de S. Paulo report. The ruling would fine the paper A Gazeta and the TV station Canal 10 more than $58,000 if they fail to comply.