Radio of the South

La Radio del Sur
First air date 2009
Language(s) Spanish
Owner Ministry of Popular Power for Communication and Information
Website laradiodelsur.com.ve

The Radio of the South (Spanish: La Radio del Sur) is an international radio network based in Caracas, Venezuela. It was launched in January 2010, after a trial period of four months,[1] which began shortly after the Second Africa-South America Summit.[2] The network follows the 2005 launch of TeleSur, a television network aimed at Latin America.[3]

History

The network began operations in September 2009 with 88 stations in Latin America, the Caribbean, the United States, Canada and Spain, including 18 stations in Argentina and 10 in Colombia.[3] Whilst initially focussed on countries with Spanish-speaking populations, the network aims eventually to translate programming into French, English, Dutch and Arabic, to provide coverage for Africa.[3]

Initially it was reported that around a third of its content would be produced in Caracas (with the remaining content produced by allied stations in Latin America and Africa);[4] at launch it was said it would be around 60%.[1]

Controversy

In May 2011 workers at the Radio of the South protested against the dismissal of the network's president, stating that the move did not respect the network's internal participatory process, and was "without any explanation or formality, behaviour that is incoherent with socialist principles".[5] Workers said the dismissal was a reprisal for the network's critical reporting of Venezuela's deportation to Colombia of Joaquin Pérez Becerra, an alternative media activist accused of FARC links.[6] Becerra was a Colombian councillor for the Patriotic Union who was granted asylum in Sweden.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 Vheadline.com, 28 February 2010, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez inaugurates Radio of the South network
  2. ↑ Venezuelanalysis.com, 27 September 2009, Africa-South America Summit in Venezuela Cements South-South Collaboration
  3. 1 2 3 AllAfrica.com, 6 October 2009, South-South Radio From Caracas to Africa
  4. ↑ (Spanish) El Universal, 30 September 2009, Aparato mediático del Estado suma dos emisoras
  5. ↑ Venezuelanalysis.com, 16 May 2011, Statement: Dismissal of President of the Radio of the South
  6. ↑ Venezuelanalysis.com, 12 May 2011, Caracas-based Radio del Sur Suffers Shake Up, Workers Defend Fired President
  7. ↑ Venezuelanalysis.com, 5 May 2011, The Handing Over of Pérez Becerra and the Strategy of the Venezuelan Revolution

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