(IPYS/IFEX) – David Barturén Álvarez, a journalist for the state television station Televisión Nacional del Perú (TNP) Canal 7 is in danger of losing his job after having aired a live interview with a member of congress that contradicted a statement made previously by another congressman. Barturén has been arbitrarily removed from the position of […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – David Barturén Álvarez, a journalist for the state television station Televisión Nacional del Perú (TNP) Canal 7 is in danger of losing his job after having aired a live interview with a member of congress that contradicted a statement made previously by another congressman. Barturén has been arbitrarily removed from the position of covering congressional affairs, which he had been doing for the past four months. Congressman Pedro Morales is alleging that Barturén’s interview affected his candidacy for the congressional vice-presidency in a recent election.
Barturén told IPYS that, on 22 July 2003, Congressman Morales, of the minority coalition Unión Parlamentaria Descentralista (UPD), announced during a press conference that his group had decided to support the candidacy of Henry Pease García for the congressional presidency. Pease García is a member of the ruling party Perú Posible. Morales was a candidate for the position of second vice-president. He was running with Pease’s team, which won the 24 July election.
According to Barturén, an adviser to UPD Representative Johnny Lescano informed him that Morales had been wrong and that Lescano did not support Pease’s candidacy. Barturén then conducted a live interview with Lescano after receiving authorisation from his TNP supervisors, press manager Juan Carlos Vicente and information manager Marcos Touzett. The interview was aired on the mid-day edition of the news programme “Confirmado”. In the interview, Lescano contradicted what Morales had said. Morales was subsequently questioned by the press about the contradictory statements.
Barturén informed IPYS that he filmed Morales’ reaction so that the footage could be aired on the prime time edition of the programme.
On 22 July, at 5:30 p.m. (local time), Barturén was called into a meeting during which press manager Vicente told him that Morales had called Eduardo Bruce, president of Canal 7’s board of directors, to complain about the mid-day report on “Confirmado”. Morales argued that the journalist’s intention had been to “topple his candidacy” for the position of second vice-president.
The following day, when Barturén arrived at the station, he was informed that another team had been sent to Congress to cover that day’s activities. The journalist was surprised at this as he had been covering congressional affairs without any indication that his supervisors were dissatisfied with his work. Vicente explained that Barturén’s prime time report showing Morales’ reaction upon being interviewed by the press about the contradictory statements was poorly received by the congressman. The journalist was also informed that he could potentially lose his job. “Obviously this is a very uncomfortable situation for me. I have not yet been fired, but they have already warned me that I will be,” Barturén told IPYS.
IPYS communicated by telephone with Vicente, to ask for an explanation of the sudden change in Barturén’s position at the station. Vicente did not want to make a statement over the telephone and indicated that any request for information should be submitted in writing to his office. IPYS has submitted the request and is waiting for a response.
