2024-02-08 15:13:47
We are witnessing an encroachment on freedom of expression. The intervention of the public media and its intention to privatize them ignores the Media Law and seriously hurts the human right to communication.
We have been experiencing for some time, as the national government operates, a virulent attack on journalists -mostly women-, marking the path of a permanent escalation. The repression in Congress last week left 285 injured, of which 35 are journalists and social communicators. They seek to frighten the general population, and prevent the press from being able to report how they are governing Argentina.
Public media fulfill a social function. In critical moments, such as the pandemic, only public media provided educational content. Furthermore, Radio Nacional is the only station that reaches the most remote places in the deep interior of the Homeland. In Río Negro, it has a presence in Bariloche, El Bolsón, Ingeniero Jacobacci, and Viedma. Where there is no internet or telephone signal, residents use the Radio to communicate. Its closure will only further encourage uprooting. The profound ignorance of the community role of Radio Nacional exhibits the unitary view of the national government.
Democracy is a multiplicity of voices. This implies living with those who have a different opinion and to guarantee this it is important to have the voice of the public media, which does not run behind the agenda of the big sponsors and allows us to listen to other campaigns.
All countries – including those that the President admires – have public media. The Public Broadcasting Service PBS commands the more than 350 public media that coexist in the United States. Channels such as the BBC in London, Radio Nederland, or RAI in Italy, are world famous. France televisions, or the ARD with multiple channels in Germany, go in the same direction. Brazil even has The Brasil Communication Company.
Finally, in the public media we find workers, professionals with enormous experience, who should not be sent to the streets. What would be the profit from so many abuses? Selling the land and buildings that are part of the country’s cultural heritage? Real estate deals, contempt for the public, and the phobia of plurality of voices are very destructive. Argentina needs to build a future.
* National senator for Río Negro