(FLIP/IFEX) – Journalists Ramón B. Jimeno, Juan Manuel López and Alejo Vargas have decided to cancel the “Tercera Dimensión” programme, which has been broadcast on the Bogotá-based Radio Santafé station for the last seven years. The journalists were reacting to the station management’s request that they change the content of the information presented on the […]
(FLIP/IFEX) – Journalists Ramón B. Jimeno, Juan Manuel López and Alejo Vargas have decided to cancel the “Tercera Dimensión” programme, which has been broadcast on the Bogotá-based Radio Santafé station for the last seven years. The journalists were reacting to the station management’s request that they change the content of the information presented on the programme.
The analysis and opinion programme was broadcast on Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (local time). It aired for the last time on 10 October 2004. Jimeno told FLIP that the radio station’s owner, Lulú Bernal, had urged him to change “Tercera Dimensión”‘s content. Bernal apparently did not agree with the fact that President Álvaro Uribe’s government was at times criticised on the programme.
During the programme’s final episode, it was announced that Bernal had decided to cancel “Tercera Dimensión” following the previous week’s broadcast. Uribe’s followers had apparently been upset by criticisms of a presidential reelection bill that aired on the programme’s 3 October episode. FLIP questioned Bernal but she claimed that the decision to cancel “Tercera Dimensión” had been made by the programme’s analysts and hosts.
According to López, the programme’s director, “our intent was to analyse and contextualise the news of the week, adding to what other media outlets were reporting on.” He added that the programme’s aim was not to voice opposition to the government but to provide analysis.
FLIP calls on media owners to balance their outlets’ editorial stance with Colombians’ right to be informed. The organisation warns that the decision to cancel a programme has a direct impact on the information citizens receive. Moreover, it can result in censorship of those who express opposing opinions.
