Committee to Protect Journalists - Ecuador tag:cpj.org,2008-09-16://1 2012-02-07T23:06:56Z Movable Type 4.34-en Ecuadoran journalists ordered to pay president $2 million tag:cpj.org,2012://1.18436 2012-02-07T21:53:20Z 2012-02-07T23:06:56Z New York, February 7, 2012--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the sentence handed to two Ecuadoran journalists yesterday after they were found guilty of defaming President Rafael Correa.... Committee to Protect Journalists Ecuadoran journalists Christian Zurita (right) and Juan Carlos Calderón have been ordered to pay President Correa US$1 million each in damages for defamation. (AFP/Agencia Prensa Independiente)

New York, February 7, 2012--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the sentence handed to two Ecuadoran journalists yesterday after they were found guilty of defaming President Rafael Correa.

]]> In Ecuador, reforms restrict election coverage for media tag:cpj.org,2012://1.18411 2012-01-31T21:12:01Z 2012-01-31T21:26:34Z New York, January 31, 2012--Reforms to Ecuador's electoral law that will take effect on February 4 could hamper the ability of the country's journalists to cover political campaigns and elections, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.... Committee to Protect Journalists President Rafael Correa's government has passed reforms that could inhibit the ability of the press to report on elections. (Reuters/Guillermo Granja)

New York, January 31, 2012--Reforms to Ecuador's electoral law that will take effect on February 4 could hamper the ability of the country's journalists to cover political campaigns and elections, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

]]> Insulza must repudiate attacks against IACHR tag:cpj.org,2012://1.18352 2012-01-18T19:20:57Z 2012-01-18T19:32:20Z Dear Mr. Insulza: The Committee to Protect Journalists has been monitoring with increasing concern an offensive launched by the government of Ecuador aimed at weakening the Inter-American human rights system, an effort that if successful could represent a serious blow to freedom of expression in the hemisphere. Committee to Protect Journalists January 18, 2012

José Miguel Insulza
Secretary General of the Organization of American States
1889 F Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006

Dear Mr. Insulza:

The Committee to Protect Journalists has been monitoring with increasing concern an offensive launched by the government of Ecuador aimed at weakening the Inter-American human rights system, an effort that if successful could represent a serious blow to freedom of expression in the hemisphere.

]]> Ecuadoran media executive sentenced to jail tag:cpj.org,2011://1.18280 2011-12-28T20:07:50Z 2011-12-28T20:14:42Z New York, December 28, 2011--The director of the Quito-based daily Hoy has been convicted on charges of criminal libel for articles depicting the political influence of an Ecuadoran banking official who is a relative of President Rafael Correa, news reports said.... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, December 28, 2011--The director of the Quito-based daily Hoy has been convicted on charges of criminal libel for articles depicting the political influence of an Ecuadoran banking official who is a relative of President Rafael Correa, news reports said.

]]> Ecuadoran journalist sentenced to prison tag:cpj.org,2011://1.18164 2011-11-28T22:27:01Z 2011-11-28T22:29:44Z New York, November 28, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists is dismayed by reports that an Ecuadoran journalist was sentenced to a six-month prison term after being found guilty of criminal defamation.... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, November 28, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists is dismayed by reports that an Ecuadoran journalist was sentenced to a six-month prison term after being found guilty of criminal defamation.

]]> CPJ to hold Ecuadoran authorities accountable for threats tag:cpj.org,2011://1.18100 2011-11-11T19:03:36Z 2011-11-11T19:06:45Z New York, November 11, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by reported death threats against César Ricaurte, head of the Ecuadoran press freedom group Fundamedios, which follow a concerted campaign by local authorities to discredit the group and foster a climate of intimidation against independent media and local press... Committee to Protect Journalists reported death threats against César Ricaurte, head of the Ecuadoran press freedom group Fundamedios, which follow a concerted campaign by local authorities to discredit the group and foster a climate of intimidation against independent media and local press freedom activists. ]]> Ecuadoran appeals court upholds libel conviction tag:cpj.org,2011://1.17905 2011-09-20T17:04:52Z 2011-09-20T19:06:49Z Committee to Protect Journalists --The Committee to Protect Journalists is dismayed by an Ecuadoran appeals court ruling today upholding a criminal libel conviction against four El Universo newspaper managers in a case brought by President Rafael Correa.  ]]> Ecuadoran editor and executives sentenced to prison tag:cpj.org,2011://1.17631 2011-07-21T20:57:26Z 2011-07-21T21:26:09Z New York, July 21, 2011--An editor and three executives from the Ecuadoran news daily El Universo were sentenced to three years in prison and $40 million in fines on Wednesday for defaming President Rafael Correa, according to local news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the sentence today... Committee to Protect Journalists President Correa won his defamation suit but is appealing for more damages. (AP/Dolores Ochoa)

New York, July 21, 2011--An editor and three executives from the Ecuadoran news daily El Universo were sentenced to three years in prison and $40 million in fines on Wednesday for defaming President Rafael Correa, according to local news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the sentence today and called on Ecuadoran authorities to bring the country's press law into compliance with international standards on freedom of expression. 

]]> CPJ alarmed by defamation sentence in Ecuador tag:cpj.org,2011://1.17629 2011-07-21T15:03:04Z 2011-07-21T21:10:19Z New York, July 21, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns a sentence issued Wednesday in a libel case brought by Ecuador's president which sets an alarming precedent for suppressing free expression. The sentence, which is being appealed, calls for three years imprisonment each for three executives and an editor,... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, July 21, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns a sentence issued Wednesday in a libel case brought by Ecuador's president which sets an alarming precedent for suppressing free expression. The sentence, which is being appealed, calls for three years imprisonment each for three executives and an editor, in addition to $40 million in fines.

]]> Ecuadoran provincial reporter jailed on defamation charges tag:cpj.org,2011://1.17242 2011-05-02T18:58:30Z 2011-05-02T19:46:03Z New York, May 2, 2011--Provincial Ecuadoran radio journalist Walter Vite Benítez was sentenced Wednesday to one year imprisonment on criminal defamation charges stemming from a critical comment about the local mayor made three years ago. The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Ecuadoran authorities to release Vite and bring the... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, May 2, 2011--Provincial Ecuadoran radio journalist Walter Vite Benítez was sentenced Wednesday to one year imprisonment on criminal defamation charges stemming from a critical comment about the local mayor made three years ago. The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Ecuadoran authorities to release Vite and bring the country's press law into compliance with international standards on freedom of expression. 

]]> Referendum threatens press freedom in Ecuador tag:cpj.org,2011://1.17153 2011-04-18T15:35:10Z 2011-04-18T21:56:21Z President Correa: With a referendum approaching that may restrict news content and weaken news media companies, we are deeply concerned about Ecuador's commitment to freedom of expression. The vote, scheduled for May 7, will ask Ecuadorans several questions on a range of issues. The 10-point ballot includes, among other things, creation of a council to regulate media content and a prohibition against media companies having holdings in other industries. Committee to Protect Journalists President Correa's initiatives could violate constitutional and international guarantees for press freedom. (AP/Dolores Ochoa)

]]> CPJ condemns closure of provincial radio station in Ecuador tag:cpj.org,2011://1.17078 2011-04-05T20:17:20Z 2011-04-05T20:28:15Z New York, April 5, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the closure of a provincial Ecuadoran radio station and calls on local regulators to allow the station to resume broadcasting. Voz de la Selva Esmeralda Oriental Canela radio, known for its critical coverage of local authorities, had appealed an order... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, April 5, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the closure of a provincial Ecuadoran radio station and calls on local regulators to allow the station to resume broadcasting. Voz de la Selva Esmeralda Oriental Canela radio, known for its critical coverage of local authorities, had appealed an order to close the station on bogus administrate violations, according to CPJ research. The appeal was still pending when police shut it down. 

]]> Ecuadoran president sues critical news daily for defamation tag:cpj.org,2011://1.17055 2011-03-31T21:11:25Z 2011-04-01T14:16:10Z New York, March 31, 2011--The critical Ecuadoran daily El Universo, three of its executives, and its opinion editor could face jail time and hefty fines in a defamation complaint filed by President Rafael Correa last week. Correa should immediately drop the defamation suit and bring the country's press law into... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, March 31, 2011--The critical Ecuadoran daily El Universo, three of its executives, and its opinion editor could face jail time and hefty fines in a defamation complaint filed by President Rafael Correa last week. Correa should immediately drop the defamation suit and bring the country's press law into compliance with international standards on freedom of expression, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.   

]]> Attacks on the Press 2010: Americas Analysis tag:cpj.org,2011://1.16537 2011-02-15T05:54:00Z 2011-05-03T15:44:15Z Committee to Protect Journalists In Latin America, A Return of Censorship
The Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional leaves white space for an image the government won't allow. (Reuters/Jorge Silva)

By Carlos Lauría

As the preeminent political family in the northeastern state of Maranhão for more than 40 years, the Sarneys are used to getting their way in Brazilian civic life. So when the leading national daily O Estado de S. Paulo published allegations in June 2009 that linked José Sarney, the Senate president and the nation's former leader, to nepotism and corruption, the political clan did not sit idly by. The Sarneys turned to a judge in Brasília, winning an injunction that halted O Estado from publishing any more reports about the allegations. Eighteen months later, as 2010 came to a close, the ban remained in effect despite domestic and international outcry.

]]> Attacks on the Press 2010: Ecuador tag:cpj.org,2011://1.16551 2011-02-15T05:37:00Z 2011-02-11T15:21:04Z h7 {float:none;width:auto;height:auto;font-family:sans-serif;font-weight:normal; margins:5px;} Top Developments • Journalists attacked, broadcasters censored during police uprising. • Correa administration orders broadcasters to air official rebuttals. Key Statistic 6: Hours during which broadcasters were told to suspend programming, carry state news reports on police revolt. President Rafael Correa's administration used censorship powers throughout... Committee to Protect Journalists Top Developments
• Journalists attacked, broadcasters censored during police uprising.
• Correa administration orders broadcasters to air official rebuttals.

Key Statistic
6: Hours during which broadcasters were told to suspend programming, carry state news reports on police revolt.

President Rafael Correa's administration used censorship powers throughout the year to supplant independent news and commentary. Authorities compelled critical broadcasters to interrupt news shows to air official rebuttals. And in September, when hundreds of police officers staged violent nationwide protests over plans to reduce their bonus pay, the Communications Ministry ordered broadcasters to halt their own news reports and carry programming from state-owned Ecuador TV.

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