MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) — According to the presidential decree issued Monday, Correa merged the Public Television and Radio Company of Ecuador (RTV Ecuador), the state-run El Telegrafo newspaper, and the Andes news agency "in order to adapt them to the current functional requirements." The new state enterprise is named Medios Publicos de cominicacion del Ecuador, or the Public Media of Ecuador.
The document introduces the process of "evaluation, selection and rationalization" of human talent, and certain positions would be abolished if necessary.
Correa promised that the editorial teams of the abolished media would be able after the necessary certification to join in the new media holding.
The president announced this measure in May, as part of budget cuts caused by the economic crisis the country was facing.
In recent years, watchdogs, rights activists and journalists have repeatedly blamed Correa, who has been in office since 2007, of worsening conditions for the media in the country, as well as of attacks on private media outlets and journalists.
