Guess Which Latin American Dictator Just Got a Journalism Award
- Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:42pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Hugo Chavez meets with Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Hugo Chavez is getting a journalism award in Argentina.
The Venezuelan leader regularly clashes with critical media, but the University of La Plata is giving him its Rodolfo Walsh Prize on Tuesday for what it describes as his work giving people without a voice access to the airwaves and newspapers.
Chavez’s government has bankrolled the growth of the Telesur network, providing a state-funded alternative to privately financed broadcast stations across Latin America.
He met Tuesday with his ally President Cristina Fernandez, who is trying to transform Argentina’s communications industry through a law that would break up media monopolies and force cable TV providers to include channels run by unions, Indians and activist groups.
The two presidents also plan to sign commercial accords dealing with food, transport and energy, and to visit a state-run factory where Argentina will build ships for Venezuela’s oil industry.
Chavez’s office said the accords include a deal to import thousands of Argentine cars, 600,000 tons of food and agricultural equipment, with a total investment of $400 million. Argentine companies will transfer their technology and help build about 20 factories in Venezuela to manufacture small motors and refrigerators.
In exchange, Venezuela will keep supplying Argentina with oil.
At the National University of La Plata, the journalism faculty is honoring Chavez “for his unquestionable and authentic commitment to support the freedom of peoples.”
Chavez said on arrival in Argentina that he is proud to receive the award, even though he has read “that the dictator Chavez doesn’t deserve it.”
“Here there is democracy, now there is, and lively I’m sure, very dynamic, with an open debate just like in Venezuela, and a 
president who is an absolute defender of human rights and freedom of expression, freedom of the press and freedom of thought.”
Venezuela also has “absolute freedom to criticize, absolute freedom of thought, absolute freedom of expression. It’s just the bourgeoisie that wants to impose its voice. It doesn’t want to hear the voice of the people. And we, Cristina as much as me, represent the voices of our peoples.”
Venezuela’s El Nacional newspaper criticized the award Tuesday, saying the journalism school must be ignorant of Chavez’s continuing crackdown on independent media. “That a South American university doesn’t know about this grave situation and dares to honor this military leader with the Rodolfo Walsh Prize says much about the destruction of values that the Kirchners have imposed on the Argentine nation. Walsh was a victim of military repression and his example is now stained absurdly.”
The InterAmerican Press Association president, Gonzalo Marroquin, said in an interview that Chavez has proven to be a “clear enemy of freedom of the press.”
“It would take a long time to enumerate the long chain of actions that Chavez has taken against the right of the Venezuelan people to receive information,” Marroquin said. “Whoever believes in freedom of expression and the press should show it with actions. Chavez doesn’t have a single action, not one, that shows he’s a friend of the principles of freedom of expression or the press.”
Chavez was invited in November to receive the award, and confirmed his acceptance only last week, journalism professor Claudio Gomez said in an interview. “We decided to give it to Chavez in virtue of his work for popular communication, for example by creating the Telesur channel. This doesn’t mean that we agree with other measures his government has taken against critical mass media.”
Dean Florencia Saintout announced on the faculty’s web site that the university created a new category of the Walsh award for Latin American leaders who are committed to giving a voice to people who are least heard from, and that she hoped for an open debate about his ideas.
—
Associated Press Writers Debora Rey and Almudena Calatrava contributed to this report.
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Comments (86)
commonsenseguy
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 3:13pmnow everyone knows,that chavez,paid them,or beat the heck out of them for this award.the only thing he is worthy of is total removal from pwer,maybe he and obama and soros can all live happily ever after in their new world order,or as i call, never ever land.
Report Post »mrmikejohnson
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 3:11pmJeremiah Wright gave himself the Living Legend award.
Obama’s puppet masters gave him the Nobel Prize.
Chavez’ own puppets give him a journalism award.
I think it‘s safe to say that awards just don’t mean what they used to.
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 3:04pmChavez and Obamby must have had the same journalism class.
Report Post »historypaper
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:54pmHugo Chavez the butt buddy from Obama. I bet you a buck Obama has sent him a note to congratulate him.
Report Post »dorightfearnothing
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:52pm2 Corinthians 3:17
Report Post »Slowman101
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:51pmAnd now ladies and gentlemen, we present the 2011 Quality Journalism award to Hugo Chavez! (PAUSE) Ooooops, were very sorry, but Mr. Chavez is sitting at the back of the little yellow bus licking the window, so he is unable to accept.
Report Post »santramir
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:50pmjust imagine the kind of jewel mr rodolfo walsh was to deserve the shame of being reminded whit this group of terrorists supporters
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:44pmYOU GO HUGO!!! dont ever allow the truth to ruin a good lie i mean story.
Report Post »THENEWMCCARTHY
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:40pmFox News managing editor: I lied on-air to smear Obama http://t.co/DOkBNpe
FOX NEWS LIES
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 3:19pmWow! Is this true? I knew there was something strange about Fox News. I will never watch them again, thanks for this info!
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 4:07pmHahahahaha!
Report Post »Got another one?
streetrodder
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:32pmDoes this mean he can now write for the NY Times?
Report Post »JP4JOY
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:48pmMight be an improvement, just saying
Report Post »USACommoner
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:32pmWhat…?! No Nobel Peace Prize, too?! Where’s the justice…?
Report Post »BeeGirl
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:24pmObama got the ‘no balls’ peace prize
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:25pmNow BEEGIRL beegood!
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:18pmAh, come on!
Report Post »rienheart
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:07pmWOW!! Anyone can get any award at anytime. Isn’t that what schools have been teaching with their “Self Esteem Awards”? Everyone is a Winner, even Charlie Sheen. Hey… I have an Idea, Let’s give Charlie Sheen and award for Humility and Chasteness.
Report Post »CaptainSpaulding
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:58pmFar left wing radicals giving each other awards?
I’m shocked….no, actually I’m not (see the Obama Nobel Peace Prize fiasco)…..
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:57pmI think I’m going out and have me a plaque made, or a statue and award myself something wonderful. Will you all come to the party????
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:07pmTime and place, please!
Report Post »What do I need to bring in the line of food?
Showtime
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:57pmI hope Glenn Beck will get the Peabody Award. That IS something!
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:56pmAnd the feces fills the ditch to overflowing, get yer boots ma it’s raining liberal poo!
I surmise that this award just may have been an appeasement, perhaps Hugo threatened to nationalize the award, just wondering.
Report Post »Richard Compton
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:54pmWell now isn’t that special, Mr. Free Speech himself getting an award. Are you kidding me!
Report Post »LadyIzShy
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:49pmHA that was guess before I read it.. hey he is a great little dictator. shaking my head this is from the same people that bring our MSM.. I expect NO less
Report Post »Pattondog
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:46pmcan you staged. chavez can and did.
Report Post »bassist237
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:53pmStaged… Stooged.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:53pmWell, Chjavez at least DID something to earn it. That‘s more than can be said for Obama’s Peace Prize!
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:46pm“University of La Plata is giving him its Rodolfo Walsh Prize on Tuesday for what it describes as his work giving people without a voice access to the airwaves and newspapers.”
Obama and Progressives, take note! Propaganda on the rise. Wonder what Chavez thinks about the Internet?!
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:46pmsounds like Obama’s Nobel peace prize
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:55pmAnd, with all the union protests that Obama has encouraged in the U.S., they just might be having second thoughts abouit the prize!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:25pmWith the chaos Obama is getting to stir up worldwide and here at home, he just may win a second nobel peace prize; after all, he got the first just for being elected and not having done anything to earn it in the first place.
Report Post »mill
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 3:13pmAND it means about as much…..zilch.
Report Post »… Next they’ll give Hitler a posthumous peace/humanitarian award.
trolltrainer
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:46pmCongrats Hugo! You go boy!
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:14pmthe term “Gernouralismo” just popped into my mind.
Report Post »BIGJAYINPA
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:20pmSomehow I slipped into the rabbit hole when I wasn’t looking. Hugo a Journalist, Barry with a Peace Prize, Union thugs running wild and drawing praises and kinetic military actions. Beam me up Scotty…this place is not real!
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:43pmNot Hugo Chavez!
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:46pmNo surprise Obama got a Noble .
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:46pmoops NOBEL
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:50pmMy apologies to LetUsReason!
Report Post »hersey10
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:51pmThis equals Bam’s Nobel and Rev. Wright’s “Living Legend” award he gave himself back in March 2010 .
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:57pmSomeone else will be first next time. I have to go run some errands.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:58pmI see a Pulitzer/Rudolfo Walsh GERNALISM PRIZE going to Barry for his lazer like focus on selecting Al-Jazerra as a replacement for PBS. Hillary will stand behind him, Veiled
Report Post »ISeeDanger.com
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:07pmWouldn’t that kind of be like Ted Turner telling CNN to give him an award?
Report Post »“I’m giving myself an award for being the greatest, get that arranged for me.”
Sure it’s in the works.
http://www.ISeeDanger.com
CatB
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:12pmJust goes to prove .. it’s not what you know .. it’s “who” you know.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:18pm“Guess Which Un-American Dictator Just Got a Journalism Award?”… Obama….
Report Post »A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:22pmDid Chavez achieve to his own standard, again?
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:23pmIf Chavez wants a real journalism award how about we send him one American Style…
Attached to a Tomahawk.
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:44pmSnow Good afternoon
I like Snows Idea a lot I mean I really really like that idea.
Report Post »Dan
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 3:02pmAfter Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize, I guess anythings possible.
Dan
Report Post »BruH
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 3:56pmTouche’ Robert!
Report Post »joe conservative
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 4:03pmMaybe his buddy Sean Penn can join him for the ceremony. I‘m surprised our media isn’t giving him an award as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=619wI12Ky20
Report Post »sooner12
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 4:34pmI wonder if Chavez still pees in the shower and showers for only 5 minutes.
Chavez mentioned that there were those who stated that Chavez “didn’t derserve the award.” They better go underground.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 4:34pmno one cares in the real world…hugo is a commie pig…
Report Post »butler180
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 4:41pmThe only people he allows to voice the opinion are those who forward his (HC) agenda.
Report Post »Prez Obama who is trying the same thing with Fox news, the Internet etc. I am sure he will receive another award for his efforts
Gas137
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 5:02pmWhen wealth is redistributed, this is the type of person who gets the biggest chunk. Then prizes are given willy nilly.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:53pmwhy are you surprised….the only country that is still on our side is Columbia.owe bummer is working 24/7 to destroy them…
Report Post »