The judge presiding over Bolivia’s Supreme Electoral Court, Wilfredo Ovando, rejected efforts by journalism groups to hold a referendum on two controversial articles in the recently approved anti-racism law, EFE reports. The new rules were signed into law by President Evo Morales last week, igniting protests from activists and journalists who argue the law violates freedom of expression.
Franklin Martins, the minister in charge of government advertising and relations with the media, said that Brazil was preparing a media bill that will reach Congress before the end of the year, BBC Brasil reports. According to O Estado de S. Paulo, the proposal includes the creation of a government agency in charge of regulation.
Despite a growing need for transparency and access to information in the public sector, Brazil remains one of the few Latin American countries that still has not approved a freedom of information (FOI) law. The relatively weak news media coverage of a freedom of information law in Brazil is one of the key factors that can explain why proposals have been floating around Congress since 2003 without finding closure and, consequently, why citizens still have no right to access information. While an information access bill was introduced in Congress in May 2009, it still is awaiting approval in the Senate.
The Supreme Court has unanimously upheld a ban on a part of the media law that requires conglomerates such as the Clarín Group to sell off some of their assets within a year, Bloomberg News reports.
President José Mujica told the Brazilian magazine Veja that rulers shouldn’t respond to criticism from the press, because “if you respond you lose twice,” EFE reports.
Under the slogan “the media law is for everyone, for the monopolies too,” activists demanded enforcement of the Audiovisual Media Law, a rule that was passed by Congress nearly a year ago but is still unenforced due to several court rulings, La Jornada and EFE report.
Senators said they will approve without any changes the controversial anti-racism law proposed by Bolivian President Evo Morales, reported La Razón. The document was approved by the lower house already, and is under discussion in the senate.
Argentina's consumer defense office issued a $1.25 million fine to Cablevisión, the Internet provider of the media company Grupo Clarín, accusing the company of selling Internet access with an expired license from Fibertel, reported El Siglo de Tucumán.
After media and journalism groups strongly criticized the anti-racism bill that passed the Chamber of Deputies last week, the Senate has invited journalists to discuss the issue today (Sept. 16), Los Tiempos reports.
Seven legislators flew to D.C. to criticize Ecuador’s controversial draft media law in front of several international groups, including the Organization of American States and Freedom House, El Universo and EFE report.
Argentina's president, Cristina Fernández, signed the regulations for a decree that returns exclusivity of newspaper and magazine sales to vendors, known as “canillitas”, selling publications in kiosks or on the street, reported the local press.
The Bolivian Chamber of Deputies recently passed a controversial law that would criminalize racist or discriminatory acts, BBC Mundo reports. Journalism and media groups have said that the law, which is still waiting Senate approval, “violates freedom of expression,” because it could punish third parties for covering controversial issues.