“Tonight our #Vivianaconvos cycle for A24 has ended. We have had differences with the channel regarding the notion of freedom of expression. We believe that defending freedom is also defending a basic institution.” With this message, the journalist confirmed the news last night Viviana Canosa And so the controversy began.
What triggered his departure? Everything indicates that it was a report on the Minister of Economy, Serge Massa, which company authorities told him not to air. as he knew THE NATION, the journalist’s departure was even shouted. There was a fight minutes after 8 p.m. and after that Canosa decided not to do his program and, furthermore, that it was time to leave.
Hours later, the driver gave her version of what had happened. After 11 p.m., he announced on social networks that he was leaving the channel and said: “We also believe that defending institutions and people are different issues. We also have a difference with the channel regarding the notion of violence. In our opinion, what generates violence is poverty, indigence, unemployment, inflation and all the disasters that we will spare ourselves mention. We are not naive. We know that communication amplifies and influences. But we do not confuse the problem with the symptom. They are not the same”.
After the program was not on the air, the America Group issued a statement in which, without mentioning Massa, he reported on a series of episodes recorded on videos involving the new minister. “The decision has been made not to spread the same”, remarked the company.
“Given the profuse dissemination of street videos taken by strangers with cell phones generating escraches with not only verbal but also physical violence against public officials, politicians and leaders in general and then uploaded to social networks,” he added.
In justifying its position, the channel indicated that it is due to “the agitation that these strangers cause with their aggressions in a moment in which the country requires the collaboration of all forces policies and society in general to maintain social peace and respect for institutions.
As a result of the news, several social network users sympathized with the driver, including various leaders and figures from the show. Former President Mauricio Macri was one of the politicians who referred to Canosa’s departure and from his Twitter account he described the episode as an act of “censorship”.
“We cannot accept any kind of censorship of the press, not even covert censorship with good intentions. It is a throwback to ignorance, a punishment that promotes silence. We accept the cost of being free or we accept the consequences of not being free. I am with freedom”, expressed, forcefully, the former president on Twitter.
The former security minister Patricia Bullrich also referred to what happened. “I bank you with my heart, Viviana Canosa. ! We live in freedom and democracy. We want uncensored journalism!” she declared on Twitter.
For his part, former senator Stephen Bullrich He also sympathized with Canosa and sent a strong message. “My solidarity with Viviana Canosa. Freedom of expression is the basis of all the others, without it all the others are threatened. We must not tolerate subjugation of her, ”she expressed on Twitter.
Javier Milei was another of the politicians who shared his opinion about what happened yesterday accompanied by a photo in which he can be seen with the driver.
“I furiously bank the brilliant Viviana Canosa. She is crazy that she has been censored and that she leaves the channel for wanting to publish a report that could make someone uncomfortable. In FREEDOM you say what you want and you take the consequences later, but never prior censorship, ”Milei stressed.
The deputy Fernando Iglesias also spoke about it and from his account he directed harsh criticism against the channel. “What pride, to be censored for years by certain political operating agencies disguised as media!” Iglesias said about A24.
Then in another tweet he continued: “I worked for a newspaper that ran Vila Y Apple tree. it was called Citizen Journal and I remember that I published a critical note about a character in his environment and they cut me off the collaboration. Now they have me censored for years. All my solidarity with Viviana Canosa”.
Likewise, the Buenos Aires deputy of Together for Change Roberto Garcia Moritan was another of those who delved into the importance of freedom of expression and from his Twitter account he expressed his support for the journalist. Also the Minister of Buenos Aires Government, Jorge Macrioffered his support and solidarity to the journalist.
“There is no democracy without freedom of expression”, Garcia Moritán sentenced. And then he added: “All my support for you and the whole team.”
also the deputy Martin Tetaz He repudiated the actions of the company and used his Twitter account to announce the cancellation of all his planned participation in the channel. A24. “Censorship is inadmissible and I cannot validate with my presence a cowardly and corporate practice that damages a basic institution of democracy such as freedom of the press,” he explained.