How Do Venezuelans Stay Informed? An Overview of the Misinformation Landscape in Venezuela

This article provides context on the reconfiguration of the media system in Venezuela and explores misinformation and internal information dynamics. Guided by the research question, how do Venezuelans stay informed?, various surveys and semi-structured interviews are conducted. the authors offer perspectives that are inherently inconclusive due to the nature of the phenomenon studied. These perspectives are based on the findings of a limited survey conducted among lower-income sectors in a central-western State of the country, examining how the poorest populations experience misinformation and the challenges they face in accessing reliable information. In seeking to address the guiding question, the authors share four offline experiences implemented through an initiative by Venezuelan civil society. Given the lack of literature examining the consequences of the media system’s restructuring in Venezuela and its impact on journalism under Nicolás Maduro’s government, the article presents partial evaluations of these informational experiences, which involve the collaboration of civil society entities, journalists, and the public: 1) the production and distribution of wall posters mimicking the front page of a newspaper; 2) the broadcasting of informational content via a radio network of community stations affiliated with the Catholic Church; 3) the mass distribution of sms messages containing news, targeting educators and social leaders, primarily those without access to smartphones; and 4) simulated broadcasts of the “Radio Comunal” program, with live audience participation from various underserved communities, aimed at sharing complaints and engaging with residents. The article concludes with a reflection on these initiatives, which, despite their limited geographic reach, represent an attempt to mitigate misinformation in specific sectors of Venezuela, serving as socially valid responses within a context of widespread misinformation.