Caracas, June 27 (EFE).- The National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) of Venezuela denounced this Monday, on the occasion of the celebration of Journalist’s Day in the country, that the limitations in access to information that these journalists have Venezuelan professionals are the main obstacle to the exercise of journalism.
“In (the) 66.67% of the states of Venezuela (16), access to information appears as the main problem faced by social communicators, as they do not have primary and official sources and, in addition, have the doors closed in public institutions that respond to orders from the State,” the SNTP detailed in a statement.
The SNTP explained that, in second place, are the low salaries received by social communicators, a category that is presented as an outstanding obstacle in 54.17% (13) of the regions.
According to the union, low wages represent one of the main challenges in professional practice, since “press workers face working days of more than 12 hours, night and weekend shifts for salaries that range between the minimum established by the national Executive (around 29 dollars) and 200 dollars”.
“To this is added the disappearance of sources of work that was reflected as a difficulty faced by the press in 45.83% of the states of Venezuela (11) due to the closure of media outlets, the decrease in their payrolls due to lack of resources and the disappearance of information platforms that are closed as a result of state censorship measures,” said the SNTP
In addition, he said that censorship and the risks they run during their work continue to be difficulties for reporters, because they are attacked and intimidated by agents of the State and civil society.
“Journalists express their concern regarding the lack of protection and insecurity in which they feel and that represents a major difficulty in 41.67% of the states of Venezuela. In this same percentage, the lack of connectivity appeared due to failures in the services of light and internet,” he said. EFE
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