The value of a smartphone in Venezuela

Facing the shameful attitude of traditional mass media, silent witnesses of the repeated violation of Human Rights of thousands of Venezuelans, rise the leader role of little gadgets that, in the hands of citizens, become the main place to gather proofs and testimonies of a country´s drama. But it is still a mystery whether their reports will be useful, or the International Community will keep ignoring this tragedy.

While protests in Venezuela continue rising against the government´s repression, mass media in the Caribbean country keep quiet. It is not a surprise, giving the fact that the "Venezuelan revolution" counts on a large record of threats, persecutions, sieges and closures of radio and TV stations, besides physic and verbal attacks, and even illegal imprisonment of journalists and mass media workers.

Giving this scenario, nobody is in shock knowing that there is not one opposition TV station left in Bolivar´s country, and newspapers survive thanks to the generous paper donation of Colombians´ mass media. It is hard to imagine a real Democracy under these conditions.

But the truth is that there has been a while since Venezuelans don´t go for traditional mass media for information. In the end, only a few trust what they publish, and information silence has started a new cycle in the history of mass communication in the country. Facing the shameful attitude of traditional mass media, silent witnesses of the repeated violation of Human Rights of thousands of Venezuelans, rise the leader role of little gadgets that, in the hands of citizens, become the main place to gather proofs and testimonies of a country´s drama.

Smartphones, tablets and all the electronic devices designed to capture images and videos and sharing them on social networks, have become the main ally for Venezuelans´Freedom of Speech, Information and Opinion. Thank to them, those who are abroad have been able to verify the seriousness of the situation on the streets, and also the fact that is a nationwide protest lead by students, but spread to other sector of the population like medical, educational and journalistic. Nevertheless, the principal role taken by these technological instruments have been keeping Venezuelans informed of what is going on at their own country.

The right for a truthful and opportune information is not a mere desire. In it relies part of the structure of a Democracy, and in the middle of a conflict situation, it can even save lives. New mass media have made use of new reporters on the field, so that Venezuelans can be aware of the magnitude of the repression, and thank to the immediacy, the range and the possibilities of smartphones, now they acknowledge the consequences of the regime´s coercion.

So proofs are there. Run through the social networks faster and with more audience than they could have at a traditional mass media. Smartphones and tablets have given leadership to the common citizen, proving that he is a key factor in gathering Human Rights violations´testimonies. But it is still a mystery whether their reports will be useful, or the International Community will keep ignoring this tragedy.

*This post was published in Zhandra Zuleta´s original blog on Apr 7th, 2014.

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