Free Speech and Media Consolidation: What's going on in Venezuela?

In the United States, we're skeptical of media consolidation for fear that it stifles diversity of thought in the marketplace of ideas.  But when do ownership limits that increase access to the airwaves themselves stifle free speech?  That's the question being pressed in Venezuela, where the government is accused of using a new media ownership rule to silence and harass it's critics. 

I'm skeptical of the claim, in part because it comes from a trade organization, The Inter American Press Association, whose members I assume (at least some of them) stand to benefit significantly if the ownership caps are lifted.  But the Venezuelan government doesn't have the greatest record when it comes to protecting freedom of speech to begin with ( it ranked 124th on this years Press Freedom Index), so why should we trust it now?

I don't know enough about the politics in Venezuela to venture a guess as to whose side the government is really on, but would appreciate hearing from readers who do . . .

-Kathleen Bergin

Comments

[Joe]

I don't think there's actually that much diversity in our media. There's conservative and liberal and all they do is poke fun or scream at eachother anymore.

[bathmate]

Happy new year.
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Bathmate