Press union denounces Monagas governor's restrictions on earthquake survivor coverage

Venezuela's National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) has accused Monagas Governor Ernesto Luna of attempting to restrict media coverage of earthquake survivors transferred to the state. The union stated that Luna requested journalists and media outlets limit their reporting, particularly interviews, under the guise of protecting the survivors' mental health.

According to the SNTP, this request was made during a July 16 meeting with media directors and correspondents. During the encounter, which included a psychologist, participants were allegedly asked to refrain from interviewing survivors from La Guaira for a period ranging from 15 days to three months. Furthermore, the governor reportedly stipulated that any journalistic coverage concerning these survivors must first be cleared with the governor's office, which would then provide guidance on how to frame the information.

The SNTP strongly condemned these directives, labeling them an attempt at prior censorship and an illegitimate infringement on the practice of journalism. The union argued that access to the testimonies of individuals affected by a disaster is a matter of public interest. They emphasized that journalists are professionally equipped and ethically bound to cover such sensitive situations with care and responsibility, possessing the necessary training and ethical criteria.

The union also noted that during the meeting, warnings were issued that certain types of coverage could lead to legal action, further increasing pressure on journalists covering the emergency. In response, the SNTP demanded that Governor Luna retract any measures that could impede journalistic work and ensure the "free exercise of journalism."