Chile

CHILE The government has started a special program of assistance to the media in the context of its plan to support small and medium-sized businesses. The program is designed to help the media modernize through use of new technology, financing, promotion, training, technical assistance and information. A bill currently under consideration seeks to privatize the state-owned National Radio network. La Nación is expected to be privatized before the end of the present government term in 1994. The government of President Patricio Aylwin has promised to privatize all state-owned media. One press issue being debated is that of the limits of public figures' right to privacy. The controversy began when a major stockholder in a private television channel revealed a taped telephone conversation of aspiring presidential candidate Sebastián Piñera in which he asked whether one of the journalists in a panel discussion with Piñera's opponent for the party nomination would be willing to smear his opponent. This courts are studying the matter to establish whether any crime has been committed. So is the Ethics Council for the Media, which has been set up to deal with violations of journalistic ethics. As a result of the outcry, Piñera has dropped out of the race. The state-owned television station quoted an unidentified Army intelligence officer as saying that his unit had systematically and secretly taped telephone conversations of the country's leading figures. The Army in turn accused the station of trying to denigrate the Army and its commander- in-chief, former Chilean strongman Gen. Augusto Pinochet. The Army threatened has taken legal action against the station's news director, Patricia Politzer. A judge dismissed a libel suit brought by the president of the Temuco Appeals Court against journalist Elinor. Comandari of Cosas magazine resulting from an interview with Santiago Supreme Court judge Luis Correa Bulo. The government is studying a bill for a new press law. Although the stated aim is to strengthen freedom of expression, it would confine the practice of journalism to university graduates, and thus amount to a restriction cf the press.