It is hard to get news in Venezuela nowadays.
Daily protests rock the capital, Caracas, and often spring up in other cities.
The government is gripping tightly to power via any means possible. That includes severely restricting the flow of information. Venezuelans are creating ways around the news blockade.
BusTV is one of the more creative attempts.
Roving “news crews” get onto city buses and pretend to be news broadcasters. The “news anchors” stand behind wooden “TVs” and read the news.
It looks like bad comedy—but it is the only alternative news source many Venezuelans can access.
They tell the people what is going on in the nation and the world.
“People appreciate this due to the shutdown of information, which has been imposed for a long time in Venezuela,” said Claudia Lizardo, director and founder of BusTV.
BusTV tries to maintain a respectful approach. They are not protesters; they are journalists.
“We are not interested in a dialogue with the government, this is not a negotiating table, this is a news journal and what we want is to be able to carry out the activity over time, precisely due to the respectful profile which does not seek to confront anyone,” said BusTV journalist, Laura Castillo.
Venezuelan commuters seem to appreciate the service.
“I think it is excellent because it is a way of opening people’s eyes. Some people have their eyes shut,” said fan and bus passenger Rosalba Paredes. “I, at least, understand the situation in Venezuela clearly, but there are many people who still believe this is a wonderland of a country, and really it is not like that.”
Some journalists might feel silly, standing behind a fake TV screen. BusTV’s crews realize that their method is unorthodox.
They also realize they play an important role in the civic life of their embattled nation.
