The Chair of the Socialist Parliamentary Group, Nira Fierro, criticises the lack of transparency and the internal crisis caused by the resignation of the news director and the new media and content management.
On Monday [22], Nira Fierro, Chair of the Socialist Parliamentary Group, condemned the management model and the criteria applied by the current Government of the Canary Islands and the general direction of Radio Televisión Canaria (RTVC) regarding the establishment of the media and content management role, following the resignation of the news director.
Concerns Over Appointments
Fierro questioned the general administrator of the entity, María Méndez, about the suitability of a procedure that, she claimed, “is based on a completely erroneous premise and is an insult to the journalism professionals in the Canary Islands.”
During her speech, she made light of the lack of rigour in appointments made by Coalición Canaria (CC), comparing the selection of individuals without journalistic experience to the idea of a dockworker directing a hospital. “This is exactly what has happened at RTVC. For CC, professionalism is an expendable term, whether in healthcare or journalism. With their criteria, anyone can manage the public television content without ever having a connection to information.”
Previous Appointments Questioned
She also recalled that the appointment of Méndez as general administrator of the public entity had previously been questioned, describing it as “a politically motivated decision by Mr Clavijo that had nothing to do with journalistic professionalism.” However, she considered that the new Media and Content Management represents “an even more serious escalation, as it undermines the value of the efforts of those who have studied, trained, and worked for years to ensure a quality, plural, and professional public television.”
Lack of Transparency in Selection Process
Fierro denounced the “opacity” surrounding the selection process, stating, “They have done it quietly, without the slightest transparency or loyalty towards the employees of the organisation. The result is as revealing as it is concerning: only one person applied for the newly created position. Coincidentally, a journalist who until yesterday worked as the communications chief in the Government’s own council.”
According to the socialist deputy, this new role has sparked an “invisible crisis” within RTVC. In her opinion, this lack of plurality in the selection, combined with the obvious political proximity of the chosen individual, highlights CC’s intention to place “political appointees” within public television. “Everything points to a process designed to accommodate aligned profiles and control RTVC’s content from the outside, which is absolutely unacceptable.”
Consequences of Leadership Changes
The Chair of the Socialist Group underscored the internal consequences this decision is already causing, such as the recent resignation of the news director, who cited that the new model “does not preserve the distinct framework that information in a public television should have.”
However, this resignation was not reported in the channel’s own news. “This is a very serious matter. We are facing an invisible crisis because what should be a public debate about journalistic independence is silenced within the organisation.”
Support for Journalistic Independence
Fierro also emphasised the position of RTVC staff, who have expressed their commitment to rejecting political interference in their work. “The professionals of the organisation have made it loud and clear: they will not allow politics to dictate their day-to-day work. The Socialist Group fully supports this stance because the independence of the news services is a red line that cannot be crossed.”
In this regard, she demanded clear explanations from Méndez regarding the functions of the new Media and Content Management and the resulting organisational chart within RTVC. “We want to know exactly what role this position will play, with what competencies, and under what criteria the decision was made that directly threatens the plurality and credibility of public television.”
Fierro warned that the Socialist Parliamentary Group will not allow Coalición Canaria to turn RTVC into “a television serving partisan interests.” “The Canary Island society deserves an independent, plural, and professional public television. That is the commitment we shall defend against the attempts of political control and opacity that are currently being imposed.”
