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The socio-political crisis in Venezuela intensified since 2002 placed in the front page the debate on political role of the communication media –especially in conflict situations – and also demonstrated a weak Venezuelan academic production that could contribute to the analysis and reflection on this matter. At the same time, the crisis multiplied the facts that affected in several ways a full exercise of freedom of expression and right to information. On this last point it must be said that there has take place a still incipient academic reflection and the publication of materials such as reports on the events have been produced by the civil society. The combination between both elements: political communication and freedom of expression, has become a substantial part of the current socio-political process in Venezuela. In this context, it is necessary to work on an academic-research approach that, starting from the analysis of recent events, could reflect on them through theoretical elements, weaving relations with other moments of the national democratic history so that it could have an impact on the undergraduate and postgraduate programs at UCAB.
In this context, it is indispensable to review the role historically played by the media regarding the political scene and its tide bound with democracy validity:
· Project “Old or New Actors?” The media in the political scene of the Contemporary Venezuela
· Project “Media and Democracy in Venezuela?” the debate on the democratic governability. Developed during 2007 and 2008 by the UCAB Communication Research Center and sponsored by Open Society Institute (OSI). Monitoring was its principal component and, in second term accompaniment and training for the media and journalists on the cover of issues of interest for the citizens of the country. The project included the conduction of a wide monitoring process of the media (press, radio, and TV), together with a group of academics from other seven cities in order to identify deficiencies on the press coverage for topics of the citizen interest. Also, focal groups took place in several cities of the country to assess the citizen opinion on the journalists’ work in Venezuela. Finally, training and accompanying activities took place from professional journalists in order to produce changes on the journalistic coverage and therefore to benefit citizens. This project started based on the premise that the media plays an essential role on giving visibility to issues of citizen interest and they provide a very important contribution to the democratic debate in the modern societies. For the Venezuelan case, this subject represents a challenge of first order. In recent years has being evident the political positioning of a private media group; therefore, the media topic has become substantial part of the political crisis. In this context it is a priority to have an approach that allows directing the media’s focus on the citizen agenda, once again. This project emphasized the coverage of citizen interest topics: security, unemployment, and the high cost of living. The project titled “Media and Democracy in Venezuela” was coordinated by Andres Cañizalez.
· Dimensions of Freedom of Speech and Information: an important debate on the freedom of speech and information, probably like never before in Venezuela, has taking place. Such debate shows, in many occasions, a lack of reflection and research. It is pertinent therefore to undertake the principles on the freedom of speech and information as well and its development as an essential right for the democratic system: New Rules: More freedom of speech? A new vision to the Venezuelan legal architecture / the new expressions and the role of the State on the protection and promotion of the freedom of speech.
