| | |  Editorials | Issues 
Mexico Proposes Citizen-Watchdog for Media
 Yvonne Reyes Campos - The News
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April 12, 2010
 |  | The media has distorted freedom of speech and has turned it into a systematic practice of ambushes against individuals and political parties, putting them in a state of submission and vulnerability.
- Porfirio Muñoz Ledo |  | | |
Mexico City – Porfirio Muñoz Ledo, a member of the Labor Party (PT) parliamentary group in the Chamber of Deputies will promote a reform initiative to several articles of the Constitution in order to establish the foundations of an autonomous citizen institution, created by the Congress, that would regulate radio, television and telecommunication concessions and permits.
Muñoz said that the media is an intermediary between the State and the population but sometimes the media is involved in “illegitimate” activities. For this reason, the institution would have the right to grant or suspend such privileges and to punish the “excesses” of the media, said Muñoz.
“The media has distorted freedom of speech and has turned it into a systematic practice of ambushes against individuals and political parties, putting them in a state of submission and vulnerability,” Muñoz said.
It has also abused the use of its tools to influence voters, to make up political scandals, to cover up serious events, to create positive images of some characters or to destroy the reputation of others without taking any responsibility for their actions,” he said.
Therefore, he has proposed a modification to the Article 27 of the Constitution, which says that ownership of the lands and waters within the boundaries of the national territory is vested originally in the nation. Muñoz intends to add a seventh and eight paragraphs stating that the radio-electric spectrum would also be the nation’s inalienable property and public and private organizations should have the same opportunities to exploit a concession.
“The autonomous citizen institution created by the Congress would be in charge of the administration and regulation of radio, television and telecommunications concessions and permits,” says the proposal. The institution would make sure that the content of the media respects and promotes human rights. It also says that no public, educational, community or private institution could be in control of more than 25 percent of the frequencies. “The media has given itself an important role. They influence public opinion in accordance to their own interests,” Muñoz said.
The initiative seeks to also modify Articles 6, 7 and 73 with the purpose of establishing the regulations that the State would abide by during its administration of the radio-electric spectrum. Article 6 says that the expression of ideas shall not be subject to any judicial or administrative investigation, unless it offends good morals, infringes on the rights of others, incites crime, or disturbs the public order. Article 7 refers to freedom of writing and publishing and Article 73 describes the powers of the Congress. |
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