Ecuador: President criticises press, papers call for free expression

15 Aug 11 | Index Index, minipost

Several major Ecuadorian newspapers ran the same cover on 10th August, titled “For Freedom of Expression”, in protest against President Rafael Correa’s increasing verbal and legal attacks on independent media. The President devoted 42 minutes of his State of the Union speech to criticism of the press, and during his weekly TV broadcast also urged the public to file lawsuits against what he called the “corrupt press”, name-checking  reporter Jeanette Hinostroza for having commented on political negotiations related to appointments within the National Assembly.

Ecuador: Journalist faces lawsuit over allegations of corruption

04 Mar 11 | Index Index, minipost

José Cadena, owner of the weekly “El Vocero” newspaper, based in northeastern Ecuador, faces a lawsuit for publishing allegations of bribery and embezzlement against the local prefect, Orlando Grefa. The newspaper claims it has stopped receiving government advertisement contracts, and is no longer invited to local government press conferences.

Ecuador: Media legislation threatens to curtail expression

12 Jul 10 | Index Index, minipost

The Ecuadorian government commissioned a series of television adverts which accuse the private media of distorting the truth. Local reports claim that President Rafael Correa was deliberately portraying the private media in a negative light in anticipation of the final debate of the government’s telecommunications bill. The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) claims that the new laws will foster prior censorship and authorise the state to commission a political organ with the power to punish the private media arbitrarily.