Venezuela: National Guards Block Journalists Marinelid Marcano and Gianna Rodriguez from Covering Protest
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns restrictions on journalists' right to inform, calls for accountability
Location: Venezuela, Anzoátegui
Date: September 28, 2023
Three members of the Bolivarian National Guard block journalists Marinelid Marcano and Gianna Rodríguez from covering an indigenous protest. Officers cite safety concerns as grounds for denying access. The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly condemns these limitations imposed on journalists' right and duty to inform and demands accountability.
“They limited our right to inform and the right of protesters to express themselves freely,” says Diario El Tiempo’s reporter Marinelid Marcano after being barred by military personel to continue their travel to the Kariña indigenous community of Anzoátegui state. The National Guard closed off the El Tigre-Cantaura highway after protests erupted demanding the release of six tribe members arrested three days prior on charges of fuel trafficking.
Journalists, including Marcano and Gianna Rodríguez from Diario El Tigrense, were denied entry to the protest area with officers requesting their documentation. Susana Quijada, reporting for Televen and Impacto Venezuela, was the only journalist permitted entry due to her positioning on the northern side, away from the demonstration and in the opposite direction of the road.
"We were informed by the military personnel on site that we were not allowed to enter the area due to orders from their superiors," says Marcano. "They claimed that the protesters were aggressive and posed a potential threat to our safety. However, despite the restrictions, the protesters themselves reached out to us from the demonstration site. They wanted to inform the media about the reasons behind their continuous three-day presence on the national highway," Marcano adds.
The media landscape in Venezuela has undergone significant changes in recent years. There has been a notable decline in media pluralism and press freedom. The government has implemented various measures to control and influence the media. This includes the creation of state-owned media outlets, which have been accused of biased reporting in favor of the government. As a result, alternative and independent media outlets have emerged, often relying on digital platforms and social media to disseminate information. These outlets face challenges, including limited resources, threats, and online harassment. Journalists have reported harassment, intimidation, and censorship by government authorities.
CFWIJ has been closely monitoring the media landscape in Venezuela and has documented several instances of harassment, intimidation, and attacks targeting women journalists.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands firmly in solidarity with Marinelid Marcano and Gianna Rodríguez. We strongly condemn the actions of the National Guard in preventing these journalists from carrying out their duties and reporting on important issues. We demand a thorough explanation and a full investigation into this incident to ensure that such restrictions on press freedom are not repeated in the future.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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