posted by Jack Lee
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Venezuela’s top prosecutor insisted Thursday that freedom of expression in Venezuela “must be limited” and proposed legislation that would slap additional restrictions on the country’s news media.
The new law would punish the owners of radio stations, television channels and newspapers that have attempted to “cause panic” and “disturb social peace,” Attorney General Luisa Ortega said.
It also would punish media owners who “manipulate the news with the purpose of transmitting a false perception of the facts.” The government will determine what is false and manipulating. “Freedom of expression must be limited,” Ortega said.
Ortega urged lawmakers to consider her suggestions as they debate a bill that would punish as-yet-undefined “media crimes.” The National Assembly, which is controlled by allies of President Hugo Chavez, is expected to approve the measure in coming months.
Meanwhile in the USA discussions on the Fairness Doctrine continue. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D.-CA.) has long signaled her strong support for the “Fairness Doctrine” — which would require radio station owners to provide equal time to radio commentary when it is requested. The Fairness Doctrine is also known as the Hush Rush Doctrine. The Fairness Doctrine could spell disaster for the popular conservative talk shows if stations were forced to hand over valuable air time to much less popular liberal commentators. Conservatives say people now have a free choice, why should government interfer in this process, whats fair about that?