Venezuelan journalists and media outlets censored and attacked during regional elections

“During the voting process, there were patterns of a governmental policy that portrays journalists as enemies and that systematically harasses their work,” Carlos Correa of Venezuelan non-profit Espacio Público told the Knight Center. “There is a direct relation between the guarantees of freedom of expression, democratic debate and political participation.” Even in the months leading up to the elections, Correa said, there was a restrictive policy that resulted in the reduction of pluralism, with the closure of more than 50 broadcast stations, police detention and violence in cases of open censorship against national and international media who were carrying out their work. More…