7 Sep 2011 | Index Index, minipost
A court in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul has prohibited media outlets operated by Grupo RBS from publishing the name or image of councilman, Adenir Mengue Webber, who is involved in a public funds scandal. Failure to comply with the ruling could result in a 600 USD-a-day fine. In August 2010, Fantástico, a TV programme, presented a series of reports denouncing trips taken by council members using state funds. The politicians justified the trips, saying they involved training courses. The National Association of Newspapers and the Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism both condemned the ruling, saying it violated freedom of expression.
6 Sep 2011 | Index Index, minipost
The Organization of American States’ Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has accused Venezuela of censoring the country’s media. IACHR criticised measures taken against satirical magazine 6to Poder, which was briefly censored for a cover portraying six government officials as cabaret dancers. The organisation released a statement saying that such instances “are against the regional standards for freedom of expression and create an intimidatory environment, encouraging self-censorship.” They also referred to a case against opposition politician Oswaldo Álvarez Paz, who was sentenced to two years in prison in July 2011 for “distributing false information“, having accused Hugo Chávez’s government of supporting drug trafficking.
5 Sep 2011 | Index Index, minipost
The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) overturned a January decision to pull a 1985 song by the popular Dire Straits. The song, “Money for nothing”, was pulled from airwaves after complaints over the lyrics, which use the word “faggot”. The council reversed the decision after considering the meaning of the lyrics, which were meant to be satirical.
1 Sep 2011 | Index Index, minipost
The editor of satirical Venezuelan weekly newspaper 6to Poder has turned himself in to police on Tuesday while under investigation over a front-page photomontage that angered allies of President Hugo Chávez. Authorities had sought Leocenis García while investigating him on charges of insulting public officials and instigating hatred. The publication and circulation of the magazine were briefly prohibited after it published a cover with six Venezuelan government officials portrayed as cabaret dancers on 21 August. García insists he is innocent.
