Panama
Government considers regulating mediaPosted Feb 13 2010
In Panama, several members of parliament have suggested reenacting their former Censorship Board as a way to regulate the media. After receiving criticism about their new bill, the proposers later clarified that they would focus on overseeing media self-regulation, but in no way would censor the media, according to the Inter American Press Association.
The bill suggestion comes after President Ricardo Martinelli criticized local broadcasters in Crítica newspaper for reporting only on “deaths, robberies and murders.” The president also disagrees with the violence and drug trafficking seen in telenovelas.
According to Hora Cero and Panamá America, Martinelli mentioned in a meeting with media leadership that media outlets need to self-regulate or he will have the state do it for them.
IAPA worries about potential government involvement in what the media decides to report. “We are not opposed to the application and promotion of ethical values in the work of the press, in fact we promote them,” IAPA President Alejandro Aguirre said. “What we cannot accept is that they be imposed by the government or by any other entity outside the press.”