Venezuelan Acting President Commends Media’s Role in Democracy
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez highlighted the fundamental role that communicators play in defending information sovereignty. Photo: Venezuelan Presidential Press.
September 16, 2026 Hour: 7:43 pm
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Venezuela’s Acting President emphasized this Wednesday the importance of a free and responsible press, highlighting the constitutional right of Venezuelans to be informed truthfully and promptly.
The Acting President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, led the ceremony for the award of the “Simon Bolivar” 2026 National Journalism Prize at the Miraflores Palace, a solemn act that is traditionally held every June 27 but had to be postponed due to the emergency caused by earthquakes.
Rodríguez highlighted this Wednesday the courage and heroism of the Venezuelan journalists who risked their lives to report after the devastating earthquake of June 24, in an intervention in which she pointed out the historical conjuncture that the South American nation is experiencing.
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The Venezuelan Acting President of Venezuela emphasized the importance of a free and responsible press, highlighting the constitutional right of Venezuelans to be informed truthfully and promptly. “Communication must serve as a platform for a country seeking a different path, seeking to live together,” she stated.
“Never did they silence us, and never did they prevent you from continuing to exercise the sacred duty of informing truthfully and promptly, as it is enshrined in our Constitution as a right for the Venezuelan people,” Rodriguez affirmed, underscoring the government’s recognition of the media’s crucial role in democracy.
Rodriguez also called for a respectful communication that is not held hostage by extremism, fascism, or intolerance. “Let it be a respectful communication that is not again sequestered or drowned out by extremism, expressions of fascism, or expressions of intolerance,” she emphasized. This call to action highlights the need for a media environment that fosters dialogue and understanding, free from the constraints of extremist ideologies.
Journalism Awarded
The event also saw the awarding of recognitions in various categories of journalism, underscoring the government’s commitment to supporting a vibrant media landscape.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of awards in various categories, including printed media, opinion, graphic imagery, radio, television, digital, community, alternative, teaching, and research. These recognitions serve as a testament to the diverse and dynamic nature of Venezuela’s media landscape, celebrating excellence in journalism across multiple platforms.
The highest award of the day, the “Simon Bolivar” Unique Prize, was awarded to the journalist and political analyst Clodovaldo Hernández for his 40 years of career, in an act that also posthumously paid tribute to recently deceased journalists and victims of the earthquake tragedy.
“This National Journalism Award is given at an extraordinary moment of change in Venezuela, in a Venezuela that seeks to preserve its tranquility, its peace, its independence, its right to development, to the future and the right of the Venezuelan people to have a homeland,” said Rodríguez.
The Acting President’s remarks and the awards ceremony collectively send a strong message about the importance of a free press in a democratic society. By acknowledging the media’s role and supporting its various forms, the government demonstrates its commitment to upholding the constitutional right to information and fostering a media environment that is both responsible and vibrant.
Rodriguez’s speech and the awards ceremony highlight the government’s dedication to promoting a free and responsible press. This commitment is essential for maintaining a democratic society where information flows freely, and the media plays a crucial role in informing the public truthfully and promptly. The recognition of various categories of journalism further underscores the diversity and excellence within Venezuela’s media landscape, ensuring that the right to information is upheld for all citizens.
Author: Laura V. Mor
Source: Venezuelan Presidential Press
