Councilors from the ruling party oppose the requirement of a university degree for those who opt for the “Eduardo López Rivas” Municipal Journalism Award, since they exclude “popular or community” communicators. Councilor José Sierra (PSUV) attacked the journalist Leonor Argüelles at the meeting where the regulations were being reviewed, forcing the public consultation to be suspended
Text: The Truth.com
Last Thursday, May 5, there was an altercation between the councilors and the journalists present at the first Public Consultation on the Ordinance of the Municipal Prize for Journalism, which seeks to modify the rules of participation in the contest, where only journalists with degrees from a public or private university in the country. Therefore, the councilors of the Great Patriotic Pole do not agree, alleging that these changes exclude “popular or community” communicators who do not have a university degree but who are dedicated to the work of informing through different media.
“We as the Municipal Council of Maracaibo strongly and institutionally reject the events that occurred on Thursday in the first Public Consultation that was made on the reform of the Ordinance of the Municipal Award for Journalism. We regret the facts and condemn the situation presented between the councilman, José Sierra and the journalist Leonor Arguelles after a discussion by different points of view which led to a quite worrying, sad and unfortunate suspension, “said the president, Eduardo Vale.
Argüelles argued that applicants must have a university degree and be affiliated with the National Association of Journalists (CNP).
Assault by councilor José Sierra (PSUV) on Zulian journalist Leonor Argüelles, while she
broadcast live a Public Consultation in the Municipal Council of Maracaibo this #5M. Gender violence and attack on the right to information. pic.twitter.com/h47QrOYatL— freddyzur (@freddyzur) May 7, 2022
He also added that “it is a matter of trying to boycott our public consultation, which we are not going to allow in any way, nor are we going to allow any type of gender aggression, much less against a lady such as the journalist Leonor Arguello, or towards any journalist, we must respect each of the parties, the idea is to advance towards a better Maracaibo».
The president also reported that the schedule set for the approval of said reform will continue to be carried out continuously. On Monday, May 9 at 2:00 pm, the second Public Consultation will be held, and then on Wednesday, May 11, the second plenary discussion of the Municipal Chamber will take place.
“Our position regarding the changes to this Ordinance has been clear, there are some councilors who do not agree on the issue of what they call alternative communicators and I have also been clear that they can present a proposal for us to evaluate a new Ordinance where I can give recognition to these people, but not within the Municipal Journalism Award, “Vale concluded.
Also read: Freedom of expression and communication are keys to democratic redesign
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