Supercom speeds up on issuance of sanctions

The Superintendency of Information and Communication (Supercom), led by Carlos Ochoa, turns 6 months today and so far has issued seven administrative penalties against four private media, two of those issued last week, one for Extra Newspaper and one for TV channel Ecuavisa.

Carlos Ochoa

Penalties issued by the Supercom:

• Case “Bonil.” Cartoonist “Bonil” and El Universo Newspaper were punished on January 31, over a cartoon that referred to the raid on the home of activist Fernando Villavicencio. Authorities ordered for a drawing rectification and a fine equal to 2% of the Newspaper’s turnover.
• RTS case. TV channel Red Telesistema (RTS) was sanctioned in last February for “taking an institutional position” in spreading news about a case that is in preliminary investigation. The media was fined 2% of its turnover (approximately $ 60,000).
• Extra case. The Extra Newspaper has received four penalties from Supercom. The first two over the front page headlines of the newspaper. The third was due to failing to correct such headlines, and the fourth over the “sexist and stereotyped treatment” given in the “Sexy Monday Special.”
• Ecuavisa case. The host of “Contacto Directo,” Alfredo Pinoargote and TV channel Ecuavisa were declared by the Supercom as responsible for transmitting “discriminatory” content. Authorities ordered for a public apologize whithin the next 72 hours, broadcasted in the same TV space towards the Afro-Ecuadorian people.