The government has announced that from 2 January to 20 October 2017, government officials have taken part in 950 interviews, which is an average of four per working day. The announcement was made as a response to the statement issued by the Dominican Daily Press Society (SDD) that called for more direct communication from the government.
The government responded with an analysis of interviews provided by the officers developed by the Office of Information, Analysis and Strategic Programming. The analysis stated that 141 printed press interviews had been carried out as well as 410 TV and radio interviews.
Nevertheless, Administrative Minister of the Presidency, José Ramón Peralta, said that they had read the document and felt it would assist in strengthening relations with the press and strengthen democracy.
The SDD says that the government ministers nor the President have been available for questions and answers by the press and rely on one-way communication, primarily through press releases sent out by the government departments.
Responding to the government reply of ministers having been available for 950 interviews, the president of the Dominican Daily Press Society (SDD), Persio Maldonado said he trusts the government will adopt measures so that there are more answers and greater access to the information. He highlighted the matter is not the number of official interviews, but rather the timely answers to the issues addressed by the press.
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Listin Diario
Diario Libre
26 October 2017
