Résumé - Andrés Cañizález

Summary: Venezuelan, born on February 9, 1966; is a Bachelor of Mass Communication (Journalism Major), Master of Political Science with emphasis on International Relationships from Simón Bolívar University (USB by its Spanish initials) and Master of Venezuelan History from Andrés Bello Catholic University (UCAB by its Spanish initials), also earned a Political Science Doctorate from USB, Caracas His doctoral thesis earned high honors. He further completed postdoctoral studies at Central University of Venezuela (UCV by its Spanish initials).

Chair Professor-Researcher at UCAB, in charge of the line of research on media, democracy, and freedom of the press. His position promotion research was awarded a publication recommendation by the examining jury.

He has managed such academic journals as Temas de Comunicación (Communication Issues) from 2006 to 2016, and Comunicación. Estudios Venezolanos de Comunicación (Communication. Venezuelan Studies on Communication) from 2000 to 2008, coordinated the Latin American Communication Researchers (ALAIC by its Spanish initials) Political Communication and Media Task Group from 2006 to 2016. Cañizález is a member of the Academic Council for the Opening and Development of Latin America (CADAL by its Spanish initials).

In May 2019, he has appointed President Emeritus of the Venezuelan Association of Communication Researchers (INVECOM by its Spanish initials), in recognition for his career, and is a board member of the NGO Medianálisis, which since 2010 conducts research and training endeavors, encouraging interaction between journalism and democracy.

In 2017, he was ranked among the 300 highest impacting Venezuelan scholars (from all fields), according to Google Scholar indicators, in a rating by EU-sponsored Acumen Project, being the only one involved in media journalism and free speech among those listed. Since 2014, Cañizález hosts En Este País (In This Country), a Venezuelan news analysis show broadcast on Fe y Alegría (Faith and Joy) national radio network, a Latin American Association for Radio Education (ALER by its Spanish initials) affiliate.

In 2018, he received NGO La Vida de Nos (This Life of Ours) Narrative Journalism Award for his autobiographic testimonial “El Hijo de La Loca” (The Crazy Woman’s Son), which addresses the schizophrenia afflicting his mother. In 2019, IPYS (Press and Society Institute by its Spanish initials) Venezuela awarded the report series “Las Voces del JM de Los Ríos” (The voices of JM de Los Ríos [Hospital]), regarding the precarious situation of the flagship children’s healthcare center in the country, featuring a piece by Cañizález, a special mention at its national investigative journalism contest. Likewise, the [Roman Catholic] Bishops Conference of Venezuela (CEV by its Spanish initials) granted him its yearly Monseñor Pellín Opinion Program Award 2019 for the show “In This Country”.

Since 2000, he has been involved in the defense, promotion and study of freedom of expression in Venezuela, as summarized below:

 2007-2015: Author - at the request of Tal Cual director Teodoro Petkoff - of the first column devoted to freedom of expression issues in Venezuela, called Infocracia (Infocracy), published by this daily, later weekly.  2001-2013: Author and co-author of the chapters on freedom of expression and information in the annual reports of the Venezuelan Education-Action Program on Human Rights, PROVEA.  2005-2011: Correspondent in Venezuela for the international network of Reporters Without Borders (RSF by its French initials).  2005-2008: Responsible for the design and implementation of the first graduate program (online degree) on freedom of expression and information in Venezuela, offered by UCAB.  2003-2006: Participant, along with other activists, in the hearings at the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) convened regarding the situation of freedom of expression in Venezuela.  2000-2001: Participant of the high-level training course on Freedom of Expression (nine months) organized by the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights (IIHR) and UCAB.  2002: Co-founder of NGO Espacio Público and co-author of the freedom of expression and information indicators developed and compiled by this organization since then; co- founder of Press and Society Institute (IPYS) Venezuela Chapter, responsible for establishing a monitoring network in seven cities in the country.  Regular contributor for Efecto Cocuyo, El Estímulo, and Prodavinci websites with journalistic pieces addressing the implications of the interaction between political power, media, and freedom of expression in Venezuela.  Author of over 100 academic publications (books, book chapters, and articles). They can be found listed on Google Scholar. Among them, the following titles regarding the study of freedom of expression stand out:

 Cañizález, A. (2019). Poder y medios de comunicación: entre la democratización y el autoritarismo. La sinuosa historia venezolana [Power and media: Between democratization and authoritarianism. The winding Venezuelan story]. Comunicación. Estudios venezolanos de la comunicación. N° 187-188. pp. 9-28. Fundación Centro Gumilla, Caracas.  Cañizález, A. (2019) 20 años de censura en Venezuela (1999-2018) [20 years of censorship in Venezuela (1999-2018)]. Editorial Alfa, Caracas.  Cañizález, A. (2019) El presidente encadena. La comunicación presidencial directa en América Latina [The president goes live on a mandatory broadcast. Direct presidential communication in Latin America]. Innovación, tecnología e información. El nuevo paisaje de la comunicación. Asociación Venezolana de Investigadores de la Comunicación y Universidad Monteávila, Caracas.  Cañizález, A. (2018) Periodismo y poder en la Revolución Bolivariana (1999-2001) [Journalism and power in the Bolivarian Revolution (1999-2001)]. Quorum Académico. Vol. 15. N° 2. pp. 93-107. Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo.  Cañizález, A. (2018) Venezuela: Journalists work in a fragile context. Brazilian Journalism Research. v. 14, N° 2. pp. 524-545. Associação Brasileira de Pesquisadores em Jornalismo, Sao Paulo.  Cañizález, A. (2018) Políticas públicas de comunicación en tiempos de la Revolución Bolivariana [Public communication policies in Bolivarian Revolution times]. Spiritto, F. (Coord.). Decisiones de gobierno en Venezuela. Apuntes para su comprensión histórica y de políticas públicas. pp. 297-316. Universidad Católica Andrés Bello & Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Caracas.  Cañizález, A. (2018). Cuarenta años de recorrido: la libertad de expresión e información en la revista Comunicación [A forty-year journey: Freedom of expression and information on Comunicación magazine]. Comunicación. Estudios venezolanos de la comunicación. N° 181. pp. 100-114. Fundación Centro Gumilla, Caracas.  Cañizález, A. (2018) Comunicación, poder y democracia. Travesía latinoamericana y venezolana [Communication, power, and democracy. The Latin American and Venezuelan journey]. Crovi Druetta, D. & Trejo Delarbre, R. (Coords.) Tejiendo nuestra historia. Investigación de la comunicación en América Latina. pp. 31-58. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico.  Cañizález, A. (2017). Libertad de expresión. Aproximaciones, debates y límites [Freedom of expression. Insights, debates, and boundaries]. Editorial Académica Española, Madrid.  Cañizález, A. & Coscojuela, S. (2017). Recadi y la libertad de prensa en Venezuela (1986-87) [Recadi1 and freedom of the press in Venezuela (1986-87)]. Comunicación. Estudios venezolanos de la comunicación. N° 177. pp. 7-21. Fundación Centro Gumilla, Caracas.  Bisbal, M. & Cañizález, A. (2017). Venezuela: Nicolás Maduro o el autoritarismo comunicacional [Nicolás Maduro or communicational authoritarianism]. Ponce, M.& Rincón, O. (Eds.) Medios de lucha. Comunicación de gobierno en América Latina. pp. 209-232. Ediciones B & Universidad Católica del Uruguay, Montevideo.  Cañizález, A. (2017). Hegemonía y control sobre la comunicación masiva. El modelo chavista [Hegemony and control over mass communication. The Chavista Model]. Bautista Urbaneja, D. (Coord.) Desarmando el modelo. Las transformaciones del sistema político venezolano desde 1999. pp. 423-446. Universidad Católica Andrés Bello & Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Caracas.  Cañizález, A. & Matos-Smith, M. (2017). Derecho a la comunicación: el sinuoso recorrido legal en Venezuela [Right to communication: The winding legal journey in Venezuela]. Sierra Caballero, F. & Vallejo, R. (Eds.) Derecho a la comunicación. Procesos regulatorios y democracia en América Latina. Ediciones Ciespal, Quito.  Cañizález, A. & Hernández, L. (2016) La pantalla censurada [The censored screen]. Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, Caracas.  Cañizález, A. (2016) Venezuela bajo la Revolución Bolivariana: medios de comunicación y libertad de expresión [Venezuela under the Bolivarian revolution: Media and freedom of expression]. Centro para la Apertura y el Desarrollo de América Latina, Buenos Aires.  Cañizález, A. (2016) La presidencia desde los medios. TV y personalización de la política en la comunicación presidencial [The presidency from the media. TV and personalization of politics in presidential communication]. Castillo, A. & Gondo, R. (Orgs.) Comunicación Política y Democracia en Latinoamérica: Retos y Perspectivas. pp. 233-244. Sociedade Brasileira dos Profissionais e Pesquisadores de Comunicação e Marketing Político, Sao Paulo.  Cañizález, A. & Mier y Terán Millán, M. (2016). Análisis del discurso periodístico en Venezuela a propósito de presuntas violaciones a los derechos humanos durante las protestas de 2014 [Journalistic discourse analysis regarding alleged human rights violations during the 2014 protests in Venezuela]. Comunicación.

1 TN: Name of a defunct currency exchange control authority in Venezuela from 1983 to 1989. Estudios venezolanos de la comunicación. N° 175. pp. 193-204. Fundación Centro Gumilla, Caracas  Cañizález, A. & Matos-Smith, M. (2015) El caso de Globovisión y la implantación del modelo mixto-autoritario en el sistema de medios [The Globovisión case and the implementation of the mixed-authoritarian model in the media system]. Iberoamericana. Vol. 15, N° 59. Instituto Iberoamericano, Berlin.  Cañizález, A. (2014) The state in pursuit of hegemony over the media: The Chávez model. Guerrero, M. & Márquez-Ramírez, M. (Eds.) Media system and communication policies in Latin America. pp. 157-177. Palgrave, New York.  Cañizález, A. (2014) Infocracia. Poder político, medios de comunicación y derecho a la libertad de expresión en Venezuela [Infocracy. Political power, media, and right to free speech]. Centro para la Apertura y el Desarrollo de América Latina, Buenos Aires.  Cañizález, A. (2014) Libertad de prensa y de expresión en los países andinos. Tensión, amenazas y restricciones. Intento de balance 2013-2014 [Freedom of the press and expression in Andean countries. Tension, threats, and restrictions. Attempt at an assessment 2013-2014]. Temas de Comunicación. N° 29. Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, Caracas.  Cañizález, A. (2014) Historia del presente. Libertad de expresión en Venezuela [Present history: Free speech in Venezuela]. Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. Caracas.  Cañizález, A. (2014) Pluralismo menguante. Elecciones y libertad de expresión en Venezuela [Dwindling pluralism. Elections and free speech in Venezuela]. Editorial Comunicación Social. Salamanca.  Cañizález, A. (2012) Hugo Chávez: la presidencia mediática [Hugo Chávez: The media presidency]. Editorial Alfa. Caracas.  Cañizález, A. (2012) Pueblo, medios y libertad de expresión [People, media, and freedom of expression]. Comunicación. Estudios venezolanos de la comunicación. N° 157. pp. 18-19. Fundación Centro Gumilla, Caracas.  Cañizález, A. (2012) Una libre expresión para hacer más fuerte a la democracia [Free speech to make democracy stronger]. Razón y Palabra. N° 81. pp. 1-13. Tecnológico de Monterrey. Mexico

Academic Degrees:

2018: Post-Doctorate in Social Science, UCV, Caracas.

2011: Doctorate in Political Science, USB, Caracas.

2013: Master’s Degree in History of Venezuela, UCAB, Caracas. 2008: Graduate Diploma in Transparency and Fight against Corruption, University of Chile, Santiago.

2004: Diploma of Advanced Studies in Human Rights. UCAB, Caracas.

1997: Master’s Degree in Political Science, USB, Caracas.

1988: Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication, UCAB, Caracas.

Work history and professional skills:

2004-Present: Professor-Researcher at UCAB (Maximum ranking at this university: Chair-Doctor) Skills set: Research, preparation of academic texts, teaching, organization of national and international seminars, management of international cooperation funds, project management, teamwork, design of publications.

2010-Present: Director of NGO Medianálisis, dedicated to the promotion of independent journalism and democracy in Venezuela. Activities performed: Writing of analysis articles, staff management, organization of training workshops in different locations of the country, search and management of international cooperation funds, project development.

2015-2018: Project Coordinator in Venezuela for the International NGO People in Need, headquartered in Prague. Assigned tasks: Environment reports, review of projects submitted by NGOs, monitoring and evaluation of activities among civil society associations, organization of training for Venezuelan human rights activists.

2001-2013: Researcher and Editor of the Freedom of Expression chapter in PROVEA Annual Report. Skills set: Documentation and monitoring of Human Rights violations, pattern setting, writing of situation reports.

1990-2002: Correspondent for such international media as Prensa Latina, Notimex, German Press Agency (DPA), EFE Agency, Inter Press Service (IPS) and Radio Nederland, with coverage in Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, and Ecuador. Skills set: Concise writing, knowledge of Latin America, field work in coordination with remotely located news desks, analytical ability.

1985-1990: Reporter, then Press Officer, on Radio Fe y Alegría, educational station of the Roman Catholic Church in Venezuela. Training with ALER facilitators and synergies with the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC by its French initials). Activities performed: Community communications, teamwork, establishment of independent information and editorial guidelines.

Short-Term Courses, Researcher Fellowships:

2016: Research Fellowship, CADAL. Buenos Aires.

2012: Fellowship. Sheffield University. Sheffield, UK.

2010: Fellowship, International Forum for Democratic Studies. Washington D.C.

2010: Political Management Workshop, George Washington University, Washington D.C.

2009: Governability and Political Management Program, UCAB, Andean Development Corporation (CAF by its Spanish initials), and George Washington University. Caracas.

2009: Democracy and Mass Media Course, United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Bogotá.

2007: Freedom of Expression and Information, International Visitor Leadership Program, State Department. Washington D.C., New York, Kansas City, Seattle, and Austin.

2004: Course on the Problems of Democracy and their Impact on Human Rights, Externado University of Colombia. Bogota.

2002: Media and Free Speech in the Americas Seminar, International Center for Journalists. Porlamar (Margarita Island).

2002: Civil Society and Human Rights Course. IIHR. San José.

2000-2001: Training Program in Freedom of Expression. IIHR-UCAB. Caracas.

Awards, Acknowledgements, and Accolades:

2019: Monseñor Pellín Opinion Program Award on Radio for “In This Country”.

2019: Special mention in IPYS national investigative journalism contest to “The voices of JM de Los Ríos [Hospital]” series, featuring the piece “Me ponía triste con todo lo que oía” (Everything I heard got me sad), authored by Cañizález.

2014, 2019: Honor Medals, 3rd Class and 2nd Class respectively, UCAB.

2019: Appointed INVECOM President Emeritus for academic career. 2018: 1st place in the Narrative Journalism Prize, awarded by La Vida de Nos and Banesco, for the autobiographical text “The Crazy Woman’s Son”.

2011-2019: Each academic year, recipient of recognitions as one of the top ten productive researchers of the UCAB, granted by the institutional evaluation of the university.

2011: Publication recommendation to research for promotion to Professor granted by the jury at UCAB; Doctor’s thesis high honors acknowledgement from USB.

2015: Teaching and Research Award from Arturo Michelena University. Valencia.

2013: Leoncio Martínez (Leo) Order, granted by Miranda State Government in recognition of press articles in defense of freedom of expression.

2012: Monsignor Parra León Order of Merit, from the Cecilio Acosta Catholic University for professional courage in the defense of democratic values.

2010: Titus Brandsma International Award, granted by the International Catholic Union of the Press, for his work as a journalist and human rights defender.

2010: Special Recognition, Human Rights Awards, granted by the Canadian Embassy in Venezuela.

2009: Luis María Olaso Order, of the Caracas Metropolitan Council, for his role as a defender of Human Rights.

2005: Monsignor Pellín Research Award, granted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Venezuela, in recognition for his work as a researcher of communication and journalism.

Languages:

Spanish (Native)

English

Portuguese

Contact: E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected]