As part of a the struggle for a new, participatory and democratic socialism, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), the mass party led by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, has called for a national debate on the role of the corporate-owned private media.
PSUV leader and journalist Vanessa Davies said it was "necessary to open up a debate without blackmail over the role of the media in a democratic society".
Media terrorism led to "mental health disorders", said Diosdado Cabello, PSUV regional vice president and head of the National Telecommunications Commission. He said the private media was promoting hatred and political violence.
Cabello pointed to recent statements made on private TV channel Globovision where right-wing political commentator Rafael Poleo said Chavez would end up dead the way as Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini — "hanging and with your head pointing to the ground".
Ever since Chavez was first elected in 1998, the private media has run a constant campaign against the government. It played a central role in the military coup that briefly removed Chavez from power in April 2002.
Despite this, international and national corporate-owned media outlets have tried to portray moves by the Chavez government against violations of the law by the private media as silencing dissent and attacking free speech.
On June 4, the Supreme Court ordered the stridently anti-Chavez Globovision to pay fines levied against it of more than $US 3 million for illegal use of the airwaves. The next day, the tax agency Seniat ordered Globovision to pay undeclared taxes for political advertising.
Globovision has to pay more than US$3 million all up.
Globovision claims it should not have to pay taxes for the political ads it ran during the December 2002-January 2003 bosses lockout — aimed at overthrowing Chavez — because they did not charge opposition groups for the airspace.
Venezuelanalysis.com said on June 6: "Fanny Marquez, general manager of SENIAT judicial services, said that between December 2002 and January 2003 Globovision had totally suspended its programming, in order to transmit anti-government messages and calls to march."
Seniat said this "donation" of public airwaves for opposition parties to openly campaign to bring down a democratic government was not properly declared.
"They didn't charge for the advertising time, which makes it a donation", Marquez said.. "If they don't declare it, they are covering it up."
On June 3, the Peruvian government seized control of Panamericana TV channel in its attempt to recover $39 million in unpaid taxes. While the international media attack Venezuela as trying to silence dissent, there is silence about the moves in Peru.
Now 80% of Venezuela's airwaves are controlled by private communication companies. The state has the right to regulate who uses the airwaves and how, as in most countries.
For instance, the international media reported that the Venezuelan government "shut down" TV company RCTV in 2007 due to its opposition stance. In fact, RCTV's licence to use a state-owned airwave had expired. The government raised RCTV's hundreds of violations of Venezuelan law, including its central role in the April 2002 coup, as reasons not to renew its concession — something it was under no obligation to do.
RCTV continues to broadcast in Venezuela via cable TV.
In recent years, thousands of community radio stations and newspapers have emerged as part of a flourishing of alternative media encouraged by the Chavez government. Confronted with the coup-plotting role of the private mass media, local activists across the country set up alternative news sources.
While hiding behind appeals to "free speech", the private media are only interested in defending their corporate interests and media power, which they use to try to bring down the government. No other government in the world would allow TV channels to stay n air that openly took part in a coup, broadcast calls for assassination of public officials and constantly incite violence.
The Venezuelan government has every right to implement its laws. This has nothing to do with attacking free speech and everything to do with defending democracy.
The government has also indicated the private media are not the only corporate sector it intends to make comply with the law.
"If the private banking sector in Venezuela does not get into line, complying with the constitution and laws, they have to be sanctioned", Chavez said on June 2.
"The only way in which this government and this socialist project will accept the private banking sector is if it carries out its role of intermediation and unites with the government in promoting economic development. Hit them with a fine, Disodado, don't be scared."
Chavez was referring to Cabello's comment that 95% of private banks were not complying with their obligations to designate a certain percentage of their credit loans to help people buy houses. Cabello said the banks would be fined if they did not comply, and money collected from the fines would go towards housing.