Reported By Ybeth Bruzual
I just returned from a journalists' convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico where 700-plus working journalists, bloggers, students and members of higher academia took part in dozens of workshops at the Puerto Rico Convention Center. Please enjoy the photos accompanying this story.
One of the headlining events was touted as a "newsmakers" luncheon, and hundreds turned out. On the panel were three distinguished journalists who live in Venezuela covering the political upheaval. All agreed tensions are running high and public unrest could lead to a coup there as well.
On the menu: Rice with "recao"-infused oil, chicken and veggies. In-between bites, here are some of the best quotes and tidbits I wrote down in my reporters notebook from the panelists on stage:
Journalist's Fear
Albert Ravell, director of Globovision in Caracas, joined us live via the Internet. He could not attend in person for fear of not being allowed to return to Venezuela.
Globovision is a 24-hours news channel that is being threatened by the Venezuelan government, which has publicly said it should be shut down for inciting the public against the government.
Blackburro
The Venezuelan government's answer to the Blackberry? Meet the Blackburro. Ravell explained as the audience of journalists gasped, then laughed, how Hugo Chavez had held various public events in his native country insisting that Venezuela become a leader in the high-tech world by selling the Blackburro, so the money would stay in their South American country -- Not only in the sense of manufacturing the Blackburro, but in the selling it there, as well. Made with love for Venezuelans by Venezuelans. The Blackburro should hit the market soon.
Fined For Spreading The News
As the head of Globovision, Ravell, went on to explain that some stations had faced a fine of "4 mil millones de Bolivares." And so, to clear the debt, the Venezuelan government has suggested buying air time to the same amount. However, the TV station turned it down, saying they were not going to allow propaganda. Ravell went on to say that his editorial responsibility is not for sale.
4 Ginetes Del Apocalipso
Hugo Chavez has referred to the remaining four TV stations as the 4 drivers of the apocalypse.
Ravell said he loved the beach, the food and the people in Puerto Rico, but could not attend in person for fear of not being allowed back in his country.
Also on the panel, Patricia Poleo, a Venezuelan journalist who says female journalist are under constant pressure from government officials, and even their families, are followed and persecuted.
Patricia Poleo explained she is taking a risk by the leaving Venezuela to attend the journalist convention in P.R. But felt it was her duty as a defender of free speech to tell the world what is happening in her home country of Venezuela.
Journalist Accused Of Treason
Poleo said she has been accused of treason for broadcasting a video of Cuban officials living out of Venezuela military installations in Venezuela. Poleo questioned why she was tried by a military court -- and not a regular court with a jury of her peers. In the end, she said the government admitted to allowing Cuban officials to live in the Venezuelan government-owned places, but that she had committed treason by the mere fact of showing that video.
Poleo defends her showing the video to the world saying, "los periodistas somos los contalores sociales." Making it clear to repeat, time-and-time again, that in her opinion, journalists are, what she calls, social accountants -- keeping tabs and a tally of the good and not so good.
Alejandro Lifschitz, Latin American Editor por Reuters
When asked to explain why so many news reports show the Venezuelan government with such a tight lid on divulging information, Lifschitz said journalists have limited access to public information officers and military officials. Lifschitz said he, and other journalists work a story having to do with government and when they call a particular office, days, or weeks go by before they hear from the government official, if at all.
Alternative Media
What about Twitter? When Lifschitz was asked by journalists if Twitter was an option in case all TV media outlets were to be shut down, as the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has threatened to do, he said Twitter is definitely an option to get information out to the world, as it happened recently in Iran.
He said many journalists in Venezuela are using not only Twitter, but Facebook and other venues through the Internet.
Ybeth Bruzual can be reached at ybruzual@cfnews13.com and you can follow her on Twitter@ybruzual