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22. LEGISLATIVE BILLS THAT WOULD AFFECT THE PRESS

The proposed law on Freedom of Opinion and Information and of Journalistic Practice, whose draft bill was prepared during almost two years by a commission made up of representatives of the government, the Association of Radio Broadcasting of Chile, the National Press Association, the Professional Association of Journalists and the Schools of Journalism of the University of Chile and the Catholic University, has undergone heavy amendment.

The bill treats administrative acts of state agencies as public, as well as the documents that are relevant to them. The bill also anticipates the recourse of appeal before a judge to defend this right of access.

In the proposed law the ?right to information? is sanctified, as it ??recognizes the right of society, of all sectors, groups and persons to be duly informed about all existing cultural, social and political expressions.?

In addition, the State is charged with the responsibility of ensuring the ?effective expression? of the various currents of opinion. The right of reply is modified in the sense that this can be applied with regard to the omissions incurred by the media.

Also, in the original bill it was established that the journalists are those persons with a legally valid university degree in Chile and those persons who are recognized as such by virtue of a previous law.

Finally, Habeas Data is established, which permits any person to have access to data banks in order to correct any inaccurate or false information on them therein contained.

In all of the above, in addition to other parliamentary initiatives, such as the preparation of an annual report on the pluralism of the media, one can observe an interference by the public sector in the activities of the media and journalists.

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