Posts
Venezuela: The Medium is the Message?
Further to the Venezuela story here the above is the FreeRCTV video linked from PragueTory. It begins with a quote from Camus:A free press can be good or bad, but, most certainly, without freedom a press will be never be anything but bad.
And it ends with a quote from Chomsky:If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.
More on what these quotes actually mean. And what I see as the true situation in Venezuela anon. Those dogs need walking. Meanwhile feel free to watch the video. Consider the quotes. Make comments.
HINT: All Chavez has done so far is advised his people that some of the media are poison, asked them to think before they decide which media to buy, and NOT RENEWED one RCTV UHF licence that was up. RCTV and others have NOT been shut down. Careful who you believe!
6 comments:
Ever worked for a commercial TV station operating in emerging markets?
If your "hint" is a "fact" then perhaps Cruddas should be informed before he fires off stupid letters to the Guardian?
BBC says that RCTV is closed. I'm not sure who to believe now...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6702965.stm
Not closed. UHF licence not renewed at the end of its term. Still on cable. The BBC HAVE THIS in the small print towards the bottom of the piece but they've sadly got the story a bit wrong. Which si strange considering what pinkos they all are.
No PT I've not worked for a commercial TV station operating in an emerging market. And your point is what exactly?
Is is that you sadly have to call for the overthrow of an elected government because your budget won't stretch and you need to generate some below the line coverage cheaply?
Seems to have worked doesn't it? But losing your frequency isn't the greatest. Perhaps they over egged the counter-revolution a bit?
How about free press? And this idea of "freedom of the press"? Don't you want to say something about that?
Is commercial media ever "free" in the sense that Camus and Chomsky mean?
What is Chomsky's specific comment on Venezuela and this situation?
Mmmm, RCTV is 53 years old. So what is the relevance of Praguetory's question?
Still waiting to hear some definitions of press freedom that include being controlled by a handful of ultra-rich right-wingers. Who can as Camus says never be anything but bad. Chomsky clearly doesn't believe in freedom of expression when it includes vicious defamation, false shouts of "fire" in a crowded theatre, or incitements to assassination and mayhem. Rights and freedoms can be mutually exclusive and have to be balanced wisely. Freedom does not trump illegality. Do the crime, don't get a new franchise. More anon.
Post a Comment