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PLAYBOOK SLUG: PF VENEZUELA RADIO CLOSURES
HEAD: Venezuela Mourns Loss of Pioneering Radio Station
TEASER: Broadcasting since 1930, Radio Caracas Radio is latest station to shutter as dozens of media outlets are forced out
PUBLISHED AT: 7/13/23, 10:07a
BYLINE: Adriana Nunez Rabascall
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Caracas, Venezuela
VIDEOGRAPHER:
TRANSLATOR/VIDEO EDITOR: Veronica Villafañe
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA,
PLATFORMS: (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
SCRIPT EDITORS: JJ
TRT: 2:08
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
UPDATE:)
((INTRO))
Ending a nine-decade run, Venezuela’s Radio Caracas Radio aired its last broadcast June 30. Media analysts are warning that the closure of RCR, one of the country's oldest stations, along with the shuttering of dozens of other media outlets, is limiting public access to information. From Caracas, Venezuela, Adriana Nunez Rabascall has the story, narrated by Veronica Villafañe.
((NARRATION))
Since 1930, Radio Caracas Radio has broadcast news to the people of Venezuela.
Even when the government revoked its license in April 2019, the station found ways to keep broadcasting, switching to YouTube.
But after weeks without power and concerns over the safety of staff, Radio Caracas Radio, or RCR, announced it was going off air.
[[For Radio, Jaime Nestares is director at Radio Caracas Radio.]]
((Jaime Nestares, RCR Director)) ((Male/Spanish))
"There are many signs alerting us that we’re at high risk. We gave it a lot of thought. Is it worth the risk? Having our assets seized, having people jailed? Is it worth it?”
((NARRATION))
RCR's listeners could hear news and views, including those of Venezuela’s political opposition. Its closure on June 30th was the latest in a series of stations being forced off the air.
In 2022 alone, the Venezuelan government ordered the closure of 81 stations, says Espacio Publico, a Venezuelan nonprofit that advocates free speech. ((Ref https://espaciopublico.ong/la-radio-en-venezuela-o-la-censura-normalizada-2/#_ftn1 )
((On screen credit: @lubrio + YouTube bug))
Venezuela's Ministry of Communication and Information did not respond to VOA's request for comment.
Diosdado Cabello, a senior lawmaker and member of Venezuela’s National Assembly, says freedom of expression is guaranteed in Venezuela.
((Diosdado Cabello, Senior Lawmaker)) ((Male in Spanish))
“Freedom of expression does not belong to the media, it does not belong to the owners of radios, TV stations or newspapers. Freedom of expression belongs to the citizens.”
((Narrator)) Journalists at RCR are concerned about how the closure will affect audiences.
José Domingo Blanco was a host for RCR
((José Domingo Blanco, Former RCR Host ((Male/Spanish))
"I wonder if they are really aware and conscious of what the closing of another media outlet means."
((NARRATION))
For RCR, a decline in advertising and a failure to secure a stable internet connection to broadcast via YouTube was the final blow.
((José Domingo Blanco, Former RCR Host ((Male/Spanish))
"How do you keep this [the radio station] going, even if the staff are putting their hearts into this for their country? You can't."
((NARRATION))
The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and media watchdog Reporters Without Borders both have cited concerns over the loss of independent sources of news in Venezuela.
((For Adriana Núñez Rabascall in Caracas, Venezuela, Verónica Villafañe, VOA News))
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