Ecuador's Correa: To Audit Media, Root Out 'Corrupt' Press

Monday May 25th, 2009
QUITO -(Dow Jones)- President Rafael Correa said over the weekend that his government will review the licenses granted to media outlets to root out the "corrupt press."
Last year, Ecuador's National Council of Radio and Television, Conartel, started to review licenses for 229 radio and television frequencies and said that some stations could go under state control.
Correa, a close ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, has come under fire for allegedly trying to curb press freedom.
In his weekly radio address, Correa said that the Ecuadorian media regulator Conartel has found "terrible things" and his government "will correct all the corruption" that has led to the awarding of radio and television frequencies.
Correa said that the government will soon release a Conartel report about the "complete corruption in the concession of frequencies."
He said many frequencies were granted because of influence trafficking.
Later at a joint press conference with Chavez, Correa said that a sector of the press is trying to discredit him.
Correa said that the government will prepare "stronger laws" to punish the "misinformation, bad faith and corruption," even if the costs are high.
Correa also promised to clean up the "corrupt press," which he called an instrument of the oligarchy.
Chavez, who has also been criticized for allegedly curbing press freedom, said Ecuador has Venezuela's support in its internal fight against "this phenomenon, which borders on fascist madness."