In an effort to combat government censorship of the media
Venezuelan journalists reading newspapers to bus passengers and pedestrians
Juan reads the news to the bus passengers.
From the source
Juan distributes newspapers to people in the streets.
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Amid Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's crackdown on the free press, residents of 11 of the 23 states no longer have access to regional newspapers.
That is why journalists have devised other means of conveying news, such as presenting live newscasts on buses and reading newspapers aloud on street corners.
The journalist, Juan Pablo Lares, used to sit in the front passenger-facing seats of the buses, turning on a microphone and a loudspeaker, to broadcast the news to the passengers, while his colleague carried a black cardboard frame to simulate a television screen from which Juan looked at the passengers as he read the news.
primitive system
Juan greets the passengers, "Good morning, we present to you the news bulletin on the capital's bus television." Then he reads the news to them, and most of them listen with great interest, while others pass by him to get on or off at their stations, and this news he transmits does not always satisfy the Venezuelan socialist government.
This primitive news reporting system has become one of many ways journalists maintain press freedom in this South American country.
Independent media in Venezuela, as in other similar countries, are struggling to stay afloat, but the difficulty is not only dwindling advertising revenue, but these newspapers are facing increasing pressure from a government trying to control the flow of news, including imposing Fines for criticizing officials, and obstacles to purchasing newsprint, have left millions of readers largely turning to state media for news and information.
circumvention of censorship
"This news bulletin is a way to get around censorship and disinformation in Venezuela," Juan explains to bus passengers after he finishes telling the news.
The bulletin that Juan recounted that day included the collapse of a university considered a World Heritage site, and the effects of hyperinflation in the country.
Journalists also provide newspapers free of charge to bus passengers and people at bus stops, and encourage them to share the newspapers with others.
Other journalists wander the neighborhoods and read the news to people who gather around them or listen from their windows.
Since President Maduro took office in 2013, more than 60 independent news outlets have been shut down, some of which the government has burdened with millions of dollars in fines imposed by a government communications commission that accused them of promoting hate and destabilizing the government.
Maduro accuses the press of plotting against his government and spreading false information, and these accusations are an extension of tactics used by his predecessor and mentor, the late President Hugo Chavez, who called independent media the enemy after taking office in 1999.
Venezuela is one of the most difficult environments for independent journalism, says CPJ Latin America and Caribbean Program Coordinator Natalie Southwick, where the government has used various tools, including physical harassment and detention of journalists, and the use of courts to narrow the space for critical media.
"It ultimately helps the government achieve this overall goal of trying to control the information, trying to control the narrative inside and outside the country," Southwick says.
In May a court seized the Caracas headquarters of El Nacional, an outlet that has been critical of Maduro and his closest aides.
The ruling came as a result of a defamation suit brought by the deputy head of the ruling party, Diosdado Cabello, who demanded millions of dollars in damages be paid to him.
In the same month, the newspaper "El Tiempo de Anzoategui", in the northeast of the country, stopped printing, but kept its digital version.
The NGO Espancio Publico, which documents media censorship in Venezuela, says the newspaper has suspended its print edition due to hyperinflation, increased maintenance costs and a shortage of newsprint.
Importing newsprint has been made difficult by the government's strict currency controls, which were only recently relaxed, after the creation of a state-run monopoly company to sell paper to media companies.
• Since President Maduro took office in 2013, more than 60 independent news outlets have been closed down, some of which the government has burdened with millions of dollars in fines imposed by a government communications commission that accused these newspapers of promoting hate.
• Venezuela's independent media is struggling to stay afloat, but the difficulty is not dwindling advertising revenue, but pressure from a government trying to control the flow of news, including fines for criticizing officials, and obstacles to buying newsprint .
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