CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME LATIN AMERICAN RADIO STATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000500730247-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 5, 2003
• Sequence Number: 247
• Publication Date: November 11, 1998
• Content Type: REPORT

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CLASSIFICATION :??~'~ -~ `~~~'
CONFIDENTIAL.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION F[~OM C,~~~'I`3
o FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROA
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia,
COUNTRY Coate Ricn, Dominican Republic, Gun~temnln,
Honduras, llezico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Veaezueln
SUBJECT Characteristics of Some Letin American Radio STAT
HOW Stations DATE DIST. 3 OI~Oeaoabe~'l951
WHERE
PUBLISHED
DATE
PUBLISHED
LANGUAGE
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Of ITf CONT[rT1 III ALIT ^Arrll TO All YAAYTrOrlilO .IrlOr If ~r0?
rlllTtD rt LAr. rrlr00YCilOr 0/ Trll fOr^ It llOrlllTl D.
A. Argentina
1
1. General Charaoteriotios
? ~ 2. Radio del Eetado
H . Brazil
3
C.
1. General Cherneteristice
2. Radio Nneionnl
3. The Emiseoras Asaocindns
Central America
A
1. General Chnracteriatics
2. Costa Rica
3. The Dominican Republic
!, . Guatemala
5. Honduras
6. Panama
E.
N0. OF PAGES l~
SiJPPLEMENT TO
REPORT N0.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
1. General Characteristics
2. Emisora~ "uevo Mundo
9. Radio Soaiedad Nncional do Agrioultura
t,. A,adio Sociadad Nacional de 1[inerin
1. General Characteristics
2. Radiodifuaora Naoional de Colombia
CLASS{FICATION COlCIFTDENTTALA
DISTRIBUTION
6
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rr0 ~'i~l'fS (Contd.}
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,
,
F ..
Yiexico .
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. . . . . . . . ~ . . . .
9
G .
1. Ge
2. Pr
Peru . .
.
neral Chnrncteristics
ogram Content and Presentetian
' . . . . . . .
10
H .
1. G
2. R
Uruguay
ernl Chnrecteristics
adio Nncionnl del Peru
0 . ~ ~ . . . _
11
1. C,
2. R
enernl Chnrncteristics
edfo el Espectndor
Venezue~n
1, General Cherneteristica
2. Radiodifusore Necionnl
3. C~lormmercielly Sponaozed Progr~nms
A. A ~e~ntiae: Br~oadcnsting over ell transmitters reflects the dominating influence
of the Peron re gimp. All stations ere required to relay Government-r~iited newscasts
end to meh~ their !`acilities available to the Government nt any time. E;mphneis
ie placed on the personal leadership of Peron and hie wife and on th~~ achievements
of the regime. The official radio has un3ergone a considerable expansion during
the past taro yeara~. cutting deeper into the activities of commercial broadcasters
at home and broadening the scope of the International Service for listeners
abroad.
B. ,~ a s Priva~?,e1y owned radio stations in Brazil, operating side by Bide with
the Government's Radio Nacional, do not appear to have been subjected to any
outright censorship under the Vargas regime, although some signs have been
observed that the 'powerful Emissoras Aaeocindas may be growing more cautious in
its political reportage. An executive decree issued in July 1951 placing the
~iadio Technical Co~omission, Brazilian counterpart of the FCC, under the direct
control of the President aroused widespread criticism in Congress as representing
a return to the peTSOnnl nuthoritnr.enism of the first Vargas regime, but there has
been no indicationlto dote that thr, decree has affecte3 the statue of any radio
station .
C. Central Amerio'ei; Radio bres~i~aHting in the Central American republics is
organized to a large ext.'nt along commrr~-:inl ].~ineo but orperntes under untying
dogrees of governmental control. Central American radios, with few exceptions,
echo the views and policies of the regimes in parer. Prominent treatment is
given to the ecsentinl historic unity of the Central American countries, although
exceptions -'to the'inormnlly friendly exchange of views have occurred during
disputes between individual countries, when propaganda wars involving moat of the
Central American radios hove developed. Radio time in Guatemala ie leased
regularly to Communist or Communist-supported groups.
D. Cl~ilg; Broadcasting is relatively free from control in accordance with
constitutional guarantees. Legally recogni~~d political parties and groups
appear to have equal access to radio time. Emieoraa "uevo Iu[undo, following an
editariel policy designed to appeal to a man-in-tine-street audience, carries
freque~it criticism of the Government and generally favors activities of the left-
cf-center parties;'as contrasted with the mare extensive treatment of activities
of rightist parties over the stations of Radio Sociedad Nacional de Agriculture.
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E, Colombia; Radio broadcasting operates under an overt censorship imposed under
the state of siege declared in 1949. The political opposition hes attempted to make
itself heard through the operation of clandestine transmitters in various parts
of the coon*.ry, and the Government has been taking steps to eliminate this type
of activity. The Government-operated Radiodifu8ora Nacional nerves as the principal
vehicle far presenting news to the home audience from the official viewpoint and
eo a means of underscoring the legality of official acts and refuting opposition
charges.
F. Mexico: The radio industry is organized and operated largely on a commercial
basis. There appears to be no outright censorship of broadcasting, although
Mexicea stations have not been heard to broadcast material unfavorable to the
Federal Government or the political party in pcnrer. The emphasis in domestic
news is on econcmiic data, with political developments receiving little or no
attention. ?
G. Peru; The radio in Peru ser~~es primarily as a vehicle for enhancing the
prestige arui power of the Odria regime through the presentntlon of carefully
screened material to the home audience. The official transmitters enjoy n virtual
monopoly over the news ae the result of strict enforcement of restrictions on the
operation of commercial stations. All sta~tiona are required to carry daily relays
of official newscasts. Similarity has been observed between Peru's Radio Nacional
and Argentina's Radio del Estado both sa to content and presentation of the news.
H, u a ; Radio broadcasting is characterized by the broad freedom existing
in the country for ell forma of public expression. There are no governmental
controls apart from the Radio Broedesating Code, although under a revision of
the Code enacted in 1946 the Government hes the power to take sanctions against
those held responsible for the dissemination of materiel liable to effect
Uruguay's friendly relations with other nations. Radio El Eapectador, key
station in the Difuaorea del Uruguay commercial network, leased radio time
to all political parties d;u~ing the 1950 election campaign, apparently with
complete impartiality.
I. Venezuela; B~onitoring of privately owned Venezuelan radio stations has yielded
little in the way of significant material in view of the strict censorship of the
preen and radio in effect under the regime of the Military Junta. Broadcasts
over the Government radio, which constitute only a small fraction of the total
radio output, nerve primarily ea s medium for publicizing official announcements,
apeecY-es, and decrees of the Military Junta. Programs for the home audience
appear haphazardly edited, with no attempt made to tailor official handouts for
listener appeal. In__contraat, the few programs beamed abroad seem carefully
planned.to present Venesuela in the moat favorable light end to emphasize the
country's attraction for foreign capital.
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 A ., AB~i':~~
1. General Gheraeteristicy
~,
e. 'I Government Control: Argentine radio broadcasting over the private as Bell
as the official ',transmitters has reflected increesinp_ly since tl-e'1943 revolution the domina-
ting influence of the Peron regime. The Government, in addition~'~to constantly broadening the
scope of the official Radio del Estado, has covertly purchased oontrol of all except one of
the private stet~~iona. Commercial broadcasting is permitted to continue ~o long es it adheres
to the broadcasting code formulated in 1944 and Periodically revised since then. The "private"
stations and networks are. required to hook up with Radio del Estedo'several times daily for
transmission of 'the official news bulletins and at such other times as the Government may
desire to utilize their facilities.
I
There ie no official precenaorship of broadcasts but'the Government manages to
exercise a kind of censorship by requiring commercial sponsors to ',refrain from broadcasting
domestic; news until it has been carried over the official radio,~wrhich receives its news hand-
outs directly from the Undersecretariat of Information. Swift official actiot~is taken when
broadcasts include material lacking official sanction. Or.-the-spotiaudience-participation
progrpms were banned in June 1950 after a contestant slighted the ',Eva Peron Social Aid
Foundation.
The ~'~iGovernment's control of the broadcasting industry's labor unions provides it
with an additional powerful weapon tYu?ough which it can exert pr:-~ure on broadcasters.
Control is exerrised also through the Argentine Radio Broadcasting Association, which, organized
originally to represent the private ~~dio industry vis-a-vis the Government, has now
virtually become~a spokesman for the Government.
i I
In the political realm the radio is reserved almost exclusively for the use of
the Government and the Peronista Party, although theoretically the' opposition parties have
free ecoess to radio facilities. Latin American radio stations o~ts'ide of Argentina have
broadcast s number of reports on the filing by opposition parties of requests for radio time
during the current 1951 election campaign, but as of this writing~'on2y the Peronista Party
has been able to ''.obtain time for radio campaigning.
The radio hea been used as a weapon to combat such opposition as still exists in
the Argentine press. Prior to the closing down of i.A PREN5A, Buen~s'Aires radios carried
strong attacks on the paper, refuting its editorials point by point. Attention shifted to
LA NACION with a broadcast on Aug. 3 over Radio del Iatado, censui?zng the paper's fai]are to
repudiate the acts of violence and sabotage on the Argentine railways and charging the newa-
paper with "tacit, complicity" in the affair. (Page A 2 of the Augl. 6, 1951 FHID Daily Report)
b. (Portrayal of Leaders: Constant emphasis on thepersonal leadership of
President Peron and Eva Peron is a feature of all Argentine broadcasts, with appro;timately
20 percent of theltime on an average news program devoted to detailing the daily activities of
the President and'i,his wife. Peron is depicted as an intensely busy man, arriving at his
office before !every morning and not retiring until late in the evening.
Eva Peron ie pictured daily et her desk in the LaboriMinistry interviewing labor
delegates, settling trade union disputes, accepting donations fox?'iher Foundation, and ~T?~lering
social welfare and relief measures for distressed persons. Stress'is laid on the worldwide
scope of her social welfare activities. ',
Peron is referred `.o variously as "President of the Republic," "President of the
Nation," "the Chief Executive," or simply "Gen. Peron." On apecia~l occasions when he is
addressing publiclmeetings he is generally introduced as "President of the Argentines,"
"Leader of the Argentine Workers," or "Leader of the Descamisados.!';' Sra. Peron is referred to
it1 news reportagelae the "wife of the Chief Executive, Sra. Eva Peron," or, less frequently, as
"Dona Maria Eva Duarte de Peron." At public rallies she is introduced as "the First Lsdy of
Argentina" ?~r "the Lady of Hope." II
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c. Glorification of the Regime: ~..,,nscasts carry frequent statements by
prominent persons, bath Argentine and far?ign, praising the achievements of Feran's
I',jueticielieta" regime. ~tatist'ics are broadcast Purporting to show the vF,st ec?namic
benefits accruing to labarjthraugh Government measures, and messages of suppart and
gratitude from civic, professional, and lobar groups are reed periodically. Stress ie
placed on Argentina's "thfrd position," neither capiteli.st nor Communist, in Which capital
and lobar work canstructi~rely for the nntianel welfare and contribute t,~~ the building of
a united caunti~r that is force far peace in the world.
d. Standardiza~l~.~n of LanguaP : When the official Radio del Estado came into
its own wi+,h the 1943 rev lotion, a campaign~~~as begun to "clean un" radio shows end
improve the language used 'aver the air. All Argentine stations now present the news in a
r,attern and language that may be described as standard, derarting more and mare Pram the
racy Argentine national i k~m and approaching pure Castillien. In style and delivery
the Argentine radio nov p rallels to a great extent Frenco's Radio National de Esrana.
2. $adia del Es?tado ~~ .
a. Expansion af'',the Official Network: The continued expansion and strengthening
of the official radix is ~.ndi'cated by the readjustment end distribution in Se^tember 1950
of Argentina's radio freq~enciea sa as to provide wider sere far broadcasts of the
expanding Government network end by the inauguration in October 1950 of a new 100-
kilowatt international tr namitter by Radio del Estada. During the ^ast year and a
half Radio del Estada has~cut deeper into the activities of commer^iel broadcasters by
featuring radio entertainment in competition with private networks and by broadcasting
lengthy programs of popular music. Sa far the offi.ciel Government radix has accepted na
advertisements from priva~e commercial sponsors.
b. 'The Home Service: "'~a official Wows bulletins, edited by the Undersecretariat
of Tnfarmatian, periodically open with brief commentaries lauding the Government's
achievements or quoting statements by Peron, f~llawed by the routine reportage of the
activiti.as of Peron and hie rife. governmental actions, official appointments, and economic
data. No news from abraa~l~is broa~~cast. Opposition activity is mentioned only in can-
neetian with Government a tion against tt.
The avowed func~i~n of Radio del Estada's broadcasts far the home audience is
to report an the Government's wank. A request by the apposition Union Civics Radical
for the use of official r~dib facilities during the 1951 election campaign was turned
dawn by the Minister of the'Tnteriar an the grounds that Radio del Estada carries na
political propaganda. The party was advised that it was free to contract with "privately"
awned stations far radio ~,me. Tn an evident attempt to suppart this concept of a free
private radio industry ap~iret'ing free from official restraint, President Peron scheduled
e^ecial campaign speeches luring the week preceding the November 1951 elections far br~ad-
cast aver the "private ne Nark of Argentine broadcasting stations."
c. Programs fa~~~'~,?Listeners Abroad: '.The Argentine Government has in the past
two years undertaken en extensive cultural and propaganda program far listeners abroad
in various languages including Spanish, Portuguese, Englfsh, French, Italian, German,
and Swedish, utilizing the~,ahortrrave facilities of Radice Splendid, Radio BelgTan~, and
Radix E1 Munda in edditiaz~!ta thane of Radio del Estada. Fallowing the addition of the
new transmitter in Octabez~ 1950, the service wee expended and is ati11 being reorganized.
Formerly knawr.es Servici~'~Radiofoni.ca International (SRT), i.t is paw designated Servicio
International Radiafonica Argentina (STRA), end all stations carrying the programs
announce as LRA, the call letters of the Government radio, regardless of frequency or
transmitter used.
The pattern of ~Iheee programs generally follows that of the Hame Service
braadceeta, with the emphasis always an the graving strength of Argentina, Government
achievements, Argentina's~i'third position," and her role as a farce far peace. Damest{c
controversial subjects are, nit mentioned. They differ from the Hame Service to that news
of other Latin American e~un~triea, carefully screened to paint up unrest, lobar troubles,
and economic difficulties~in the neighboring republics, is included. Particular emphasis
is placed an reparta of th;ia nature from Chile and Uruguay. Always implicit ie the contract
with Argentina, whore can~tions are described in the mast optimistic terms.
~'
The programs in the ~nternatianal Service app6ar well-planned and carefully edited,
the quality of translations from Spanish to be campetept.
and comparisons have ahaw~~
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1. General Characteristics - 3 COi~F~~EI~YTiAI.
e Freedom of Broadcasting: since Vargas' assumption of power as President
of Brazil, there hea been no indication that the privately owned broadcasting stations,
operating aide by side with the Government-owned Radio Nacionel, have been subfected~to
outright ceneo+rship of arty kind. A Federal regulation providing that all stations must
grant equal time to ^il political parties, introduced in the Lower Houss under the Dutra
administration sevezal months prior to the presidential election, appeared to have carried
and to have been in effect during the election campaign, and criticism of Goverrunent policies
.continues to be reported freely over the private networks.
b. Tightening of Government Control: The Government's power to control broad-
evsting activities, however, was strengthened considerably through the issuance of a
presiiential decree on July 20, 1951, revising the regulations governing the country's
radio stations and placing the Radio Technical Commission, Brazilian counterpart ~f
the Federal Communications Commission, under the dir4et control of the President. Thb
decree, which was designed "to raise the cultural, artistic, end moral level of Brazilian
radiolbroadcasting by imparting to it a prestige commensurate with its educational and
socis~ importan^.~," provides, among other things, that pe*mits for the operation of radio
stati~ne may be revoked by the Government in the interest of "pub'lic safety" and stipulat ea
that station concossionnaires must obtain prior au.thori.za~~on from the Presidont'in the
eventof the sale or transfer of shares or obligations from one firm or individual to another.
e. Reaction t,o Radice i)P~T~P: Reaction to the decree was immediate, narticularly
on the part of tue c~ngro~s~.,uai ~i~~,~sition. Senator Hamilton Nogueira, spokesman for "~~
UnieolDemocratica National (imN), charged that by this decree the Preaiden~~ had returnee.
t ~ the personal authoritarianism of the first Vargas administration. Other UDN leaders
charged that Vargas had usurped the functions of Congress. In reply, the president of
the Lower House maintained that the sole purpose of the decree had been to modify
regulations which had been in existence since 1932? Heated debate on the issue continued,
with ane UDN Deputy pointing out that in the event that his Harty wished to acquire a
radiolstation, it would now have to depend upon the President's good will. The chairman
of the UDN charged ?that the decree had been framed by the orgar~:;ers of the form9r
Department of Press and Propaganda with the clear aim of holding the threat o? presidentia 1
action aver all of the country's radio stations.
The Government's Radio Nacionel, meanwhile, praised the new regulations, terming
the decree e "profound patriotic measure aimed, above ell, at maintaining national security."
Despite the potential threat to freedom of broadcasting contained in the decree,
there has been no sign to date that it hae affected the status of ai-y Brazilian radio station.
Therehas, however, been some indication that the big Emissoras Aasociadas chain, owned
by la er-,journalist Assis Chateaubriand and constituting the largest privately contro].lsd
radio network in the country, may be growing more cautious in its broadcasts of political
news and comment. Lengthy analyses of the political situation, broadcast regularly under
the Dutra administration, have been heard less an? less frequent],y in recent months.
Although ?the Associadas stations devoted considerable time to reportage on congressional
criticism of the radio decree, they carried no station editorials on the sub,jeet.
2. Radio National
a T'. Administration's V$.evrpoint: The Government-operated Radio Nacionel
in Rio de Janeiro serves to a large extent as a medium for bringing the political views
and. policies of the administration before the public. It broadcasts official acts,
decrees, and regulations, reviews congressional proceedings in some detail, and from time
to time broadcasts editorials and commentaries on the accomplishments of the Government.
Continuing a policy initiated under the first Vargas administration, Radio
Naciorisl broadcasts a daily half-hour official newscast which is relayed by all Brazilian
stati~na as well as by special additional transmitters. This program, called "Informatian
Bulletin" under the Dutra administration, is now announced as "The Voice of Brazil."
Although Radio National's reportage of political events was slanted to favor
the Golvernment's views, ample Limo was provided to the opposition parties under the
Dutra administration to expound their political programs. Under the present regime,
Radio~Necional gives wider treatment to political items reflecting the viswe of the
Government and devotes correspondingly less time to reporting oppositton activities.
While on July 23, 1951, three days after the issuance of the Vargas decree regulating
broadcasting activities, Radio National described the measure as "a decree which hae
garnered the greatest praise" and "a safeguard to our educational functions inasmuch ae
it places them under state care," it reported none of the widespread criticism which the
decree~ioroused in Congress.
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b. iieAS Sources, l;~d:~.c National uses the news-gathering facilities of the
Government-controlled P.CENCIA NACIUN'~L, the indel~~endent A:~1PHF'za' (~ GENCIA SUI. AMERICAIJA DE`s
NOTICiAS) , !A?
.. _ ~,
Sunday an hour-long "Newspaper of tr, Air" containing detailed reports on developments ,
throughout the country as well as bri?.f world news reports, Aside from their apparently more,
th
i
p
e'
n
ef
cavti~ is ahproech to political reportage, these stations have made very few changes
'~`r`~`'
wand content of their news programs. under the Vargas regime.
ter..
b. News Sources; '1 he Chetesubriand steti.on~ use their oxa nationwide tale-
the M.~:RIDIONAL news agency, plus th news-gathering facilities of
raphic service
,
g
Chateaubriand's DIARIOS ASSOCIAlX1S newspaper chain fc,. ~hei.r national news, World news re_~_?
their news from the same scurces, the Rio station tends to give fuller play to the polie,ies
`
of the me,jor conservative parties, while the Sao Paulo station favors the state adminiatTa?=?
n
tion in Sao Paulo.
C . ~NTR_AL. AIUtFRTCA
1, C narA? Character's3~i,~S
a. Government Control: Radio broadcasting in tY,e Central American countrie
_ __
15 '~t'~a llt"~.cu w _: ice. g.. .. .. ...... .. .. -....o ~_.._..___-_- _
of governmental supervision. Although the extent of actual control varies greatl~?, Centra~
echo the viewe are' ..olicies of th? regimes in power
with few exceptions
di
s
,
,
o
American ra
the policies of the radio stations in the country iJ
es hands
ation chan
t
i
d
i
,
e
g
s
r
n
m
When an a
generally shift eccorcl~_ngly. In times of emergency the governments take over the operation
of broadcasting i'scilities cutrigh?t~
Concept of Unity Newscasts and commentaries monitored over Central.,
b
.
American radios give prominent treatment to the affairs of the Caribbean area as a whol.e;ed
C
meitis'
i
om
~k
es.
contain frequent reference to the basic historical unity of the various countr
e
usually in a spirit of constructv
blics
i
,~
,
ng repu
tars discuss freely the affairs of neighbor
criticism end as a rule avoiding political issues entirely or treating them with extreme~caut
j vet
Propaganda Wers: Exceptions to the normally friendly exchange of views';
c
.
the disputes between Central American countries such as the incident.
ed durin
g
have occurr
of 1950 involving the alleged manhandling of Salvadoran athletes at the Centrsl~?;
i
h
ng
e spr
t
ic Games in Cuatemela Cityo Charges; countercharges, and lengthy denials andr~s
Ol
a
i
A
ymp
c
n
mer
refutations were broadcast by botY, co~.intries. Honduran broadcasts appealed to both sides for
C:tl Lll Gll4 iV~. vl...+i+uv+v.., .--_..--p-- --
K ~~,~,~~
El Salvador, while at least one Costa Rican radio station^took the occasion to broadcast re
----- -
..,
~7~T 1.5 Ouvltb u t+a vyv.. a::.. ..~.. ..~..- ....---_---' ---
1951, the Guatemalan radio carried a number of reports designed to illustrate the country~,~e
A similar propaganda war involving all the Central American radios occurred diu
the Caribbean Legion affair, in vrhich Ni.ceragua and Guatemala p~n?ticularly were involved ~
r.
More recently, during i?he stunner of 1951, the Dornin i can radio carried on an rirn
iet~ in Washington with u~ne
lobb
ba
i
C
u~
y
u
n
ng
tensive propaganda campaign against Cube, charg
to perpetuate a system of privilege in sugar quotas to the detz?imex~t of the Dominican Repub
: relt~l,t:-~; i., :. .:~~? ;,-~1.i..?'.c+t~. ;. ,... ~:~ 'i~::~,?
-~.i~~m broadcast, and newscasts generally contain a preponderance of social notes,
? r~ar:rl.r? '~n ~tJ.~,l.'~m~',i' '~1`P1./?,l.i ~,nri .:..;~,~~r;.i.:rr_ ., :' ~: 1. '. _: .?' ~. ~ .? ?:, ~~:.ternational
news, apparently obtained from several wire services, is gene: ally given in cai.side?~?nblo
detail.
Commentaries broadcast by La Voz de Honduras are often Spanish-languepo editions
of U.S. wire-service syndicrt;ed commentaries on world affairs, datelined "ew Y rk or
!4ashington. Commentaries on Honduran affairs generally avoid political topics, dealing
instead with economic or cultural activities. Treatment of disputes involving other
Central Ameri~gn countries is as a rule concilie`Lory in nature, with stress on the
tradittonal friendship existing among all Latin American countries.
The station's commentaries and domeatir news reports are credited to the
Tegucigalpa daily EL DIA, whose editorial staff apparently prepares the broadcasts.
6. Panama ! ?
Government Control; Radio broadcasting in Panama, although organized ~n a
commercial basis, appears to aperate largely in conformance with Government roltcy end
views. Radio stations seldom carry material unfavorable to the Government.
Control was visibly tight?ned under the Arias regime, ne was evidenced by
the suppression of a program over the Panama. City Station Radio Balboa sponsored by
exiled Peruvian Apristas and Venezuelan Accior. Democratica elements. Materiel inter-
cepted following Arias' return to power indicated ..iat these end similar programs had
been banned on the grounds that thex were offensive to the Governments of other American
states and damaging to Panama's friendly relations with hor neighbors.
D. ~ CHI E li
1. General Characteristics
r~. Ownership of Stations: The great majority of Chilean radio stations are
operatedc~rmercially by corporations or private 'owners. Certain Government departments
operate r~uio stations for their special needs, but these serve technical or administra-
tive rather than political purposes. There is no official station serving as e. mouthpiece
for the Goverrunent, and none of the commercial stations appears to be utilized for this
purpose.
b. Government Control: Broadcasting 'his relatively free from control in
accordance with constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech and of the press.
Censorship per ae does not exist, although the Goverzunent has on occasion used its
powers to curb or regulate broadcasting activiti''es in the nations 1 interest. A
lengthy statute on control of radio communications governs all radio broadcasting,
and additional controls were estsblished in September 191x9 over the transmission of
cultural programs and the length of commercisls.i The use of names of persons, commercial
products, or nations to designate radio stations is prohibited.
Radio stations are apparently obligedl'to broadcast official programs or
speeches in hook-up when this ie deemed necessary, but the Government has seldom availed
itself of the privilege. Chilean news programs 'ere characterized by a lively interest
in domestic politics, and legally recognized political parties appear to have equal. access
to radio time.
2. Emi agoras Nuevo Mundo
a. Editorial Policy: Santiago short;wave station C111.74, controlled by
Orlandini and Reggio, Ltd., follows an oditoria~ policy evidently designed to appeal to
a man-in-the-s?traet audience and appears t~ have a marked pro-labor bias. The station
disavows influence from any political party or group, affecting the Tole of guardian of
the people's interests Activities of s11 political parties are reported extensively,
although particular attention is devoted to thelleft-of-center parties. The station is
patently anti-Commun?lst, giving highly colored Accounts of Communist activities in Chile
and abroad.
I'~ l/0~1~~Q~IY 1 ~~~
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_ g _ CON~'ID
Support ~f the C~??Qrnment's anti-Commons ;t -~~l.icy end is tmplsmentati~n ~f
t*~e L~~j fir the Defense of ?~9mocracy is consistent, 3ut criticism ~F t;~:.? .a~w~r?runent i. r.
the economic field is frequent and outspoken. Rerarta on criticisms directed against
Govern-nont bureaucracy, excessive expenditures, and the high coat of living are not
infrQquently "~ll~wed by remarks from the *~nouncer ridiculing the inefficiency ~f Govern-
ment operati:ns. A daily revi9w of Santiago newspaper editorials includes frequ0mt
unfavorable comment on Administration measures, abuses perpetrated by Public service
companies, and ineffective Government economic policies.
i ~
In lino with the etatior.'s gAneral editorial policy, news from abroad, general]y
credited t^ *he ASSOCIATED PRESS, i^ frequently colored for listener interest and sometimes
diatortad. Reports carried by this ~?tation on anti-Government activities in Argentina
and Peru are seldom received over other Latin American transmitters.
b. News Pres?ntation: Prea~n?.ation of the news is t~e;~hazard: Casts are poor]y
edited and aruiouncers stumble over wo r, :: and mt:~read scripts without correcting them-
selvea.
3L Radii Sociedad Nacional de Arricultur
e, Editorial Policy: Short-wave station CE11Ei0, owned by the National
A ricuhtural Societ carries Esao Reporter newscasts containing concise reportage on
~' ~ y,
Chilean and international affairs, prepared from iJNITED PRESS files. Reportage is
restrained, ~b,~ective, and totally lacking in sans~,tional.ism. Reports on critics^m ~f
the Government are seldom broadcast. Considerable attention is given the ectivi~ies of
the conservative parties, with reports on party sessions and quotations from speeahea
by party leaders treated exteneive],y. There is little emphasts on labor union activities
beyond factual reportage of mayor disputes.
b. News Presentation: Newscasts appear competently edited and read by well-
trained announrera.
1, 1, Radii S~ciedad National de Mineri.a
Short-nave station CE622, o~-ned b~? the National Mining Society, enrries
domest~ c news from the TRAN'' ^IiILE and PRIG' agencies and international news credited to
REUTERS. Political, Government, and congressional news is presented in a restrained,
ob,~ectivs manner, and appears competently edited.
E . C0~ MB
11, General CharacteristieQ
a. Official Censorship: Radio broadcasting in Colombia operates under
an overt censorship imposed by the GovErrunent under the state of siege decreed in
November 191,9. Tha private radio industry, organized on commercial lines, operates in
competf?tion with the powerful transmitters of the officiF~ Radtodifus~ra Nactorual de
Colombia. All programs are required to conform to the provisions of various Government
decrees regulating the presentation of news and commenta.ies, announcing, broadcast time,
and sod firth.
b. Clandestine Transmitters; Clandestine transmitters are known to have
been operating from various poinie in Colombia. Their broadcasts i'eature the views of
the political apposition, which, under the stringent censorship reguli~~ti:~ne and the template
control exerci9ed by the party in power, is unable to make itself heard oust legitimate
broado~est channels.
The Government, under regulations designed to meet this situation, has taken
steps lito eliminate clandestine radio broadcasting. T'he discov9ry and sei? ??~ it .Tuna 1951
of a cilandestine station known as "Colombia Libre" were followed by orders fir filie arrest
of a number of Liberal Party members, including the director of the National Party Board,
on charges of rebellion, sabotage, and the instigation and defense of crimes through the
operation ~f the clandestine station, said to have been managed by the Liberal Party
Bnard.~I Anather clandestine transmitter was discovered in July in the possession of an
employee of the Westinghouse Company.
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2. R,,~idiodifusora Naci~nal de Colombia ~?~FI~~,~~~~"1~.
The Official Viewpoint: Operated and controlled by th? Government, Radiodifusora
Nacional se^ves as the principal vehicle for presenting news to the home audience from the
official point of view? Its programs are evidently designed :~ enhance the prestige of
the Government and tc secure support for Goverment policies.
The newscasts regularly contain detail~~ reportage on Gsvernment measures,
official appointments, and Government actions in the foroign policy field. Political
news is not broadcast except insofar as it relates to official action against the
political opposition and t_ official refutation of allegations made by opponents of
the regime.
Every opportunity is taken to emphasize Colombia's democratic tradition, the
restoration of normality under the present regim?, and popular support given the Govern-
ment's efforts. MessageF from aect.ors of the populs.tion in various parts o~ the
country are from time to time read at great length t~ der~cnstrste the popular backing
enjoyed by the Government.
Executive decrbes, by which the country Ys governed under the state of siege,
are broadcast textually in an apparent attempt to underscore the legality of Government acts
despite the suspension of normal democratic processes. Particular care hair been taken to
refute in detail, with lengthy quotations from constitutional provisions, legal precedents,
and the o~~{-{ten of experts, the charges made by the opposition that Government actions
are legally invalid..
News items ors economic progress emphasize 's; a Government's work in i,he field o.'.'
social welfare, new Uenefits accruing t?~ labor under the progressive policies of the
regime, and the benefitF gained by the country as a whole thr~ugn the Government's efforts
to achieve stability
Stress is consistently laid on Colombia's adherence to the United Nations
and the friendly relations existing with the United Ste~es., Colonbia's contributSon
to 'the U.N., efforts in Korea has been played up repeatedly, and the work of it.S. end
U.N. technicians in Colombia hsa been given wide publicity.
World news reports are taken from the Latin American and European wires of the
AFP
F, ME zco
1. General Characteristics
a: Commercial Ownership; With the exception of two relatively minor Mexico
City stations owned and controlled by the Federal Government and four stations operated by
individual state administrations on a standard broadcast band, the radio industry in
Mexico is organized and operated on a commercial basis:
b. Censorship Measureao Although there is no apparent outright censorship of
broadcasting, Mexican stations generally do not broadcast material unfavorable t7 the
Cnvernment. Occasional reports on criticisms of administrative bodies or individuals are
usually on a local Level. The Intor-American Association of Radio Broadcasters was
advised by Mexican stations in July 1951 that ''certain measures which imposed censorship"
had been nullified as the result of a Government decree. They were abolished "because
of the mere fact that some of the measures could bo int,erpreted ae restricting the
freedom of radio stations and because the Mexican Government, faithful to its tradition
of respecting democratic rights, wished to publicize its policy in this respect."
2. Prop~^am Content end Presentetior,3
a. World Newe: Mexiao City short-wave stations ~BT and XEQQ controlled
by Radio l'snamericaxs, S.A., and XEVYVY, controlled by the Cadena Radiodifubora Mexicans,
S.A., carry a wide range of foreign news coverage, international news generally taking
.precedence over national developments. Reportage appears to be obJectively presented,
with two or three veral.ons of the same story sometimes giver in the case of Latin American
developments. Considerable time is devoted to reports on i'.N. activities.
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b. Aomeatic New4: The emphasis in domestic news is on economic data, Government
actions and policies, labor union activities, and social and sparts events. News reports
are characterized by an eLbonce of senaetionalir+m, with scripts written in a conventional
style. Items are generally brief and matter-of fact. Political developments receive litt le
or no attention, and no religious news is broadcast. Station XEWW carries newscasts unde??
the sponsorship of the newspaper EXCELSIOR.
1. General Characteristics
a. Government Control: Radio broadcasting in Peru serves primarily as e
vehicle for the presentation to the Peruvian public of carefully screened and selected
material designed to enhance the prestige and power of the Odria regime. Although only
three of the twelve radio stations in Lima are Government-owned, they in^.ludo the two
most powerful transmitters in Peru, OAXl,Z and OAh/,A (Radio National), operating, respec-
tively, with 50 and 20 kil wiatts. 'Ihe strongest privately owned transmitters in the
country, Lima transmitters OAX4U and OAX4V (Radio America), owned by the Peruvian Broad-
casting Co., Inc., operate with 10 kilowatts and 1 kilowatt, respectively.
b. Restrictive Decrease The official transmitters enJoy a virtual monopoly
over the news as the result of the imposition and strict enforcement by the Government of
numerous restrictions on the operation of commercial stations. An attempt in 1949 by the
privately owned OAX4V/OAX4U to ignore a Government resolution ordering all radio stations
to carry the official newscasts of the Governmelt'e Radio National del Peru was mat with
a heavy fine and temporary closure of the sta~~ons' plants.. Possibly as a means of circum-
venting, at least partially, the requirement that they must relay the official nenacasta,
the maJority of the Peruvian stations begin their broadcast day after the earliest of the
official news programs has already been broadcast over the Government radio.
Experimental monitoring ~f privately owned stations has yielded little in the
way of significant material in view ~f one tack of freedom allowed private broadcasters.
F'BID monitoring ~+' Peruvian broadcasts ha: hence been restricted almost excluaivAly to
the official newscasts carried by the Government radio.
a. The Official Viewpoint Utilization of she radio to propagate the Government
point of view was well exemplified d~iring the period preceding the July 1950 presidential
election. For several months prior ~o the election. the official newscasts were heavily
weighted with daily, almost identical nessages expressing support of Gen. Odris's
candidacy, signed by groups of ?vvorkers, members of organizations; ~r citizens of small
towns. newscasts ran overtime to permit the reading of long lists of signatures to the
messages.
Tho activities of opponents of the Government are mentione~' -+bliquely if
at all over Radio National, which stresses the official rebuttal of criticism without
detailing the criticism itself and limits its reportage on apposition activity to
disclosing Government action against it. News of the registration ~~' opposition candidate
Ernesto Montague in the 1950 election was not heard over the Peruvian radio, nor was
radio time made available to the opposition during the campaign. Radio Naei~nal
mentioned Montague only to report that he had been disqualified and to refute later
charges that his disqualification was illegal.
Similarly, mention of. the outlawed Aprista Party has been restricted t~
tccasional brief reports concerning effective Government action against abortive plots,
in which the Apristas are invariably linked with the Cortununists, and to occasianal
denunciations of APRA activities in station commentaries.
A review of newspaper editorials added late in 1950 ae a doily feature over
.Radio National uses only three papers as sourcee: the Government-owned EL CALIAO and
EL PERUANO, ang EL COMERCTO, oldest maJor conservative daily in Peru.
b. The Argentine Pattern: A striking similarity has been observed since the
advent of the Odria regime between the Argentine official Radio del Eatado and Peru's
Radio National. Argentina's efforts under Peron to develop a "standard" idiom for radio
broadeas~Ling appear to have been paralleled in Peru; and an evident improvement in the
language used over the Peruvian radio has been noted.
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Again parallelir~ the Argentine format 'tadi,o Naczo ~rlarly opens one of
itrs newscasts with a commentary, or "Note of the Day,"i praising past, present, and future
accomplishments of the regime, and both official newscr^+..s give prominence to descriptions
of the daily routine activities of the Chief of St^+?P'..a ~~ statistical data designed to
reflect theaconomic well-being of the country. Ii. further arparont imitation, Red+~
Nacional now carries reports concerning the daily activities of the President's wife,
resembling Radio del Estado's detailed reportage on the activities of Eva Peron. The
Peruvian official caste, like t~^~ae of Argentine., devote little or no time to world neea
and consist almost entirely of items of purely local interest.
Just as the official Argentine radio is attempting to attract a wider listening
audience by cutting into the operational field of the ',commercial network through the hiring
of popular entertainers, so Radio Nacional has been playing up the "native Peruvian
cultural heritage," hiring musicians and entertainers to present programs over the air.
Symphonic programs are regularly interspersed with sl~'gana praising Odria's accomplishmerrt s
and promising future presper ity ("Future Peruvian generations will remember the name of
Odria as the man who has won for ever more the economic freedom of the country:")
Peru's apparent interest in Argentina is reflected else in a weekly "Argentine
Cultural Hour" over the offi.cisl radio, consisting lar'ge7,y of Argentine music, poetry,
and other literary readings,
1. General Characteristics '~
0
Freedom of Broadcasting: Uruguayan radio broadcasting is characteri~;ed by the
broad freedom existing in the country for ^11 forms of public expression. The official
SODRE (Servici^ O~icisl de Difusion Radio Electrica)~~operates on Government funds side ~
side with the prwate atati~ns and dons not inteifere~'~with the activities of commercial
broadcasters. 'I
apart from the Radio Broadcasting Code, there are no governmental controls cr
restrictions on radio emissions.. There is no censorship, although the Broadcasting Code
was revised in 1946 to conform to a law authorizing the Government to take saneti.ons
against those held responsible for the dissemination ~f material which might affect
Urugua;*'s friend]y relations with other nations. It was under this law that Radio E1
Espectador was forced in 1949 to discontinue broadcasting the "Paraguayan Hour," sponsored
by a group of political exiles opposed to the regime ir.power, follow.tng a formal protest
from the Paraguayan Government. ',
hbntevideo serve: as the TASS headquarters for Latin America as a whole, and
dispatches concerning developments in all Latin American countries are filed 'to Moscow
vie the Montevideo communications transmitters. ~
2. Radio E1 Eapectador
i?
a. Newscasts: The key station in the Difusoras del Uru~--uay commercial network,
which includes medium-wave transmitters in a number of Uruguayan cities, Radio E1 Espectad or
in Montevideo carries s6vera 1 daily five-minute "Essc~',Reporter" newscasts consisting of it ems
credited to the UNTTED PRESS, with 60 percent or mor~iof the broadcast time allotted to
international news covet~age. Two newscasts of at least 15 minutes' duration, carrying
reports credited to the UP, APP, and ANI wire services, also emphasize world news coverage,
.presented in considerable detail. I
b. Special Programs ana Features: Radio E1 Espectador carries in addition a
number of programs foi~ cultural, political, and labor groups at home and abroad. During
the 1950 election campaign it carried propaganda of tl%e country's major political parties,
to which radio time appeared to be leased with complete impartiality. An international
nsvra commentary is broadcast for listeners at home and abroad, and programs in French,
Spanish, Polish, and Italian are presented by local sponEOring groups. A thrice weekly
program dealing with life and culture in the USSR, spansored by the Uruguayan-Soviet
Cultural Tnatitute, contains cultural and entertainment features only.
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Government Censorship: CQinsorship of the press and radio has been in affect in
V?nezuela singe'the overthroe of the Rsmuh Gallag~s regime in 1948. Although e~nstitutinnal
guarantees remain suspended and strict censorship is still practiced by~the Military Junta,
privately own~d'stationa are permitted to operate under the surveillance ~f Government
?.^^:~~' ~i,. sid~by side ??~.t.h thb :,overnment-owned Radiodifusora Nacional in Caracas. The
more importan~~!,privately owned stations ere controlled by large industrial concernr 4nd
sustained almost entirely by radio advertising. Monitoring of these stations has yielded
little in theeay of significant material, however, in view of the stringent enforeesient
of the censorship regulations.
2. Radidifussra Naci~nal
a. Tha Official Mouthpiece: The official Government radio, operating both
independentlyand in hook-up kith c~mmerciel stations, serves primari]y as a medium for
broadcasting official saner^~ements, speeches, and decrees of the Military Junta. Cow
eiderable tim~lis regularly kept open for special announcements, with programs of music
and entertairuj~iaAt featured in the absence of official material.
Newscasts c~ntatn a prenonderance of official statistics on Venezuelan imports,
exports, end hTbduction of exportable products. Close attention is given the progress of
the Governmen~!s public works ^To~^^^~ and c~A'^^ {^ '*?~ field of social welfare, and detailed
explanations ~4' laws affecting Venezuelan industry and of international treaties affectir~
Venezuela areibroadcast periodically.
b. Absence of Format: News programs give constant evidence?of en almost comnLete
lack of organisation and editing. In addition to a consistent lack of punctuality and
failure to ad2}ere to announced program schedules, many cf the nr~grams appear to have no
set format es to content and arrange^ent of material. Lengthy and relatively minot
Governmera de~xees are read in fuS.l, ?~tth no cutting or explanatory remarks by the announcer,
and official statistics are read it. what appears to be their original form, with no
effort made ta'~~teilor them for listener interest ~r t~ sum up their significance.
c. Programs Beamed Abroad: Radiodifusora Nacionel carries weekly newscasts in
French and Eng1i'sh, reporting in same detail on important domestic issues, with the stress
always on Vend^~ielan progress in various fields of endeavor and ~n the advantages the
country holds fir foreign capital. In contrast to the official Spanish-language programs,
these nawscasfiis appear carefully organized and well edited with a view to presenting
Venezuela in the most favorable light.
3. C~mmereially Snons~red Fr~tmams
a. XVBR Caracas: Radio Caracas, controlled b; a commercial organization, '
carries a n?.imber of brief Eeso Reporter newscasts containing world nees credited to the
UNITED PRESS arid'brief items of national interest.
b. YVMG Maracaibo: Radio Popular, controlled by Jo4Q Higuera, carries several
programs of domestic and international news largely on the provincial and pity level. A
half-hour daily newscast usually includes an 9ditorial from the DIARIO DEL OCCIDENTE.
Local news consists largei~~ ~r ~^imP T~norts and human-interest materiel, and the national
news is sketchy and seems poorly edited.
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