Myopia is an eye disease that causes blurred vision of the most distant objects and something similar seems to occur in CNTV
Days ago we met the resolution of the Council, which, using its powers, through a decree delimits the mechanism through which the minutes of the television strip will be designated for the campaign of the Plebiscite in April, on the constitution and formation of a constituent body, leaving out civil society organizations, at the mercy of the will of political parties, which must give a “significant time” space to these organizations.
However, the Electoral Court appeals against that decision, ruling that the CNTV must amend its opinion and assigns to civil society organisations one third of the television time of that band.
Law No. 18.838, which establishes the National Television Council in Article 14, states that “The Council shall adopt measures and procedures to ensure that in news, opinion and political debate programmes broadcast by any television channel , the principle of pluralism is duly respected.”
The same law in its Article 1 defines pluralism through a delimited catalogue of precepts that allow to understand how the term is conceived and its practical effects on everyday life “For the purposes of this law, pluralism means respect for diversity cultural, ethnic, political, religious, gender-oriented, sexually oriented…”
The decision of the Electoral Court shows that the CNTV is not taking the necessary measures to make the broad political spectrum fit into a programme of opinion, the CNTV does not contemplate in its resolutions the diversity of opinions that coexist in the Chile at the turn of the century and this may be due to its binominal composition.
The CNTV sees the social movement distant and blurred and argues that it is difficult to select organizations that could participate in the strip, claims to have no mechanisms and shows that its short-sighted gaze does not allow it to see beyond the walls of the house that houses the Council .
The courage of Councillors Esperanza Silva and Mabel Iturrieta and Councillor Marcelo Segura for making this situation public is appreciated, as most of the resolutions adopted by the Council are covered by a cloak of secrecy.
Nearly six years have passed since the enactment of the law that amended the Council to allow the introduction of Digital Television and this dispute with the Electoral Tribunal makes it clear that the Council is not yet taking appropriate action to make the pluralism really has a space in Chilean Television in the way that the law maintains.
Society is clamoring on the streets for more participation and the Council cannot tell the Social Movement that to broadcast public opinion it must mediate with a political party. The current Constitution establishes as a right the freedom to issue an opinion and to report, without prior censorship, in any form and by any means
This is when the CNTV must open the debate by inviting more and more diverse speakers, because it is no longer possible to confine it to the known so far and cannot justify its incapacity in the absence of mechanisms, least when the same law governing the Council obliges it to adopt the procedures.
The content poured into this opinion column is the sole responsibility of its author, and does not necessarily reflect the editorial line or position of El Mostrador.
