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Presidency takes control of government communication with the media, reporters raise concerns

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October 22nd, 2014 (InsideCostaRica.com) A directive that was quietly issued on October 13th forces press officials of all government and public institutions to seek prior approval from the Presidency (Casa Presidencial) of President Luis Guillermo Solis of any statements or other communications with the media and press.

 

The directive, known as DC-BR-103-2014, was issued by the Presidency on orders of President Solís.

 

According to the directive, “communications, especially those that address important issues, must have the prior approval of the Director of Communications of the Government of the Republic.”

 

That man is Boris Ramirez, Chief of Communications at the Casa Presidencial.

 

“All forms of communication [with the media] that are to be made (press releases, press conferences, media campaigns, and important meetings), must be reported to the Communications Department in advance,” the directive continues.

 

In addition, any materials to be used when presenting information to the press or that will be distributed to the press must also be sent to the Communications Department of the Casa Presidencial prior to being released.

 

Most government ministries, offices and public institutions maintain their own press offices.  Reporters routinely rely on direct communications with the press offices of public entities like the CCSS (Costa Rica’s public health and pension system), the Central Bank, the civil police (Fuerza Publica), and many more when working on stories or reporting the news.

 

Media outlets, including Inside Costa Rica, are concerned that the directive will affect their abilities to obtain timely information and engage in direct dialogue with public institutions, and fear that the directive could lead to censorship by the Presidency and the government of President Luis Guillermo Solis.

 

Boris Ramirez, Chief of Communications at the Casa Presidencial, denies that the measure is intended to centralize, control, or censor information, telling reporters instead that the directive is an effort to avoid scheduling conflicts between government ministries and other institutions.

 

President Solis also denied such charges yesterday, saying that the directive is intended to generate “better and more appropriate relationships with the media” and to organize government communications with the press.

 

“This is a measure that aims to organize, plan, and to facilitate the work of journalists and media,” Solis said.

 

The statements have done nothing to ease the concerns of media outlets and reporters.

 

Iary Gomez, CEO of Grupo Extra, said the directive goes against journalistic ethics and is in fact against the laws of the country.  Gomez described the directive as unquestionably censorship and unconstitutional.

 

The Institute of Freedom of Expression and the Press (Iplex) described the directive as “dangerous.”

 

In a statement, Iplex said that the directive could lead to “censorship and serious professional limitations” for media professionals and will limit the free flow of information.

 

 

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  • lazymainer

    Another step forward for Costa Rica.. It’s citizens should demand a Bill of Rights exactly like the USA…a tyrant now runs the country

  • dr meno

    Costa Rica, becoming Fascist Little America. USA is up to no good and they don’t want Ticos to know their atrocities around the world. They are ready to make their move for global dominance. CR has already sold out to the World Ban$ters. This is how they start repossession your country, i.e. Greece and Cyprus. The media in the USA is full of lies and propaganda. Controlling then media is the start of dictatorship.

  • Paul

    So Costa Rica gets a new President with a little twist of communism on the side.

  • Ken Morris

    Doesn’t seem like a big deal. All organizations do the same thing. However, Ramirez is lying to deny that it is an attempt to centralize media contact, since it plainly is. Odds are that this is just one of those areas in which the Solís administration’s climb up the learning curve is apparent. I doubt he realized that when central governments do this it looks pretty authoritarian, which I really doubt was his intent. The outcry should be enough to moderate any excesses.

  • SDPUS

    Grupo Nacion is corrupt. Many in the press have a longstanding relationship with the PLN. I actually like the move by President Solis.

  • expatin paradise

    I agree with Ken. When I worked in government in the US, we had restrictions on talking to the media – only one person in the agency was allowed to give statements, and I’m guessing that, at least on controversial matters, he had to clear it farther up the chain of command.

    We’ll have to see how this plays out, but this requirement would not necessarily change the point of access for obtaining statements or significantly delay responses. As inconsistent as have been the statements given by government officials here, it is probably wise to have a central official coordinate responses. I do not see this as an attempt to control the media but to ensure the dissemination of consistent information by a government that has been notoriously inconsistent, an effort to prevent officials from “going rogue” and promoting their own agendas .

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