Internet and social media sites in Venezuela have added a greater number of users per capita than any other Latin American country in the last year. The news sites have helped fill a gap since President Nicolás Maduro's leftist government has taken over three major independent news outlets and have retaliated against critical coverage.
After the sale of Globovision, Venezuela's last major television station critical of the government, citizens fear that their freedom of expression will be seriously censored. The new owners are businessmen who are believed to have ties to the government of Maduro. Carlos Lauria, a senior program coordinator at New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, states:
"If the network changes its editorial line, tones down its criticism and aligns with the government, this will affect the freedom of expression landscape by undermining pluralism for all Venezuelans."
Venezuelan's are not following the global trend from traditional to online news media, but doing so in reaction to finding alternatives since newspapers and broadcasters are struggling to control coverage. Ultimately, many of these newspapers are being forced to shut down. Steep fines, pressure on advertisers, and control of printing paper has confined the mainstream press and forced many to use online media to report news.
The government hasn't been seen to be as aggressive online despite regulations against media content being extended to the internet. Commentators and politicians have added followers on Twitter and opposition politician Maria Corina Machado has 2.1 million followers. Alberto Ravell, the former news director Globovision, has remained defiant of the Maduro administration with his founded news website La Patilla. Ravell said:
"The editorial line of La Patilla is to call it like it is. We don't need paper. We don't need a broadcasting license. There's little they can do to squeeze us."
La Patilla ranks among the country's top 20 websites and reaches 1.3 million visitors monthly. The website also attracts more traffic than websites for Globovision or Venezuela's three national newspapers.
With press freedom dying in Venezuela and the anonymity of newspaper publishers sparking accusations that the media is government controlled, online media is on the rise. Online opposition of the government is very effective and the internet seems to be the only place Venezuelan's can speak openly while still having to be cautious of what they're saying.