Venezuela is ranked 137 out of 180 by the World Press Freedom Index for freedom of speech. Despite freedom of expression and freedom of press being protected under their constitution, President Nicolás Maduro has repeatedly tried to silence his critics with 17 journalists detained and 99 injured between March and May of 2017. Despite this, Luz Mely Reyes continues her dangerous work as a journalist. With 62% of Venezuelans having internet access, her digital news site Effecto Cocuyo (Firefly Effect), has been able to reach many. Reyes has been a journalist for over 25 years and the job hasn’t gotten any easier for Reyes. In 2006 after she uncovered a corruption scandal, former President Chavez publicly threatened her on TV.
Reyes hasn’t let any of the threats or danger sway her away from reporting the truth. “It’s not that we aren’t scared,” Reyes said. “But we keep (reporting). We just do.”
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