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More detailed information. Partnership with Global Exchange. Letters and works defending Venezuelan government image. NYT article did not state the organization was to improve VEN/US relations. Can someone add more from NYT?
restored last good version, removing npov and redundancies
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}}[[File:The Toronto - Washington, D.C..jpg|260px|right|thumbnail|The Venezuela Information Office (VIO) was located in The Toronto ''(pictured)'' in [[Washington, D.C.]]]]
}}[[File:The Toronto - Washington, D.C..jpg|260px|right|thumbnail|The Venezuela Information Office (VIO) was located in The Toronto ''(pictured)'' in [[Washington, D.C.]]]]
The '''Venezuela Information Office''' (VIO) was a [[Washington, DC]]-based [[lobbying]] agency with the goal of improving the perception of [[Venezuela]] and the [[Bolivarian Revolution]] in the United States;<ref name=NYT>{{cite news | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00EFDD1538F933A0575AC0A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 | title = Venezuela's government seeks to show that its oil riches are well spent | last = Forero | first = Juan | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = 30 September 2004| accessdate = 2009-02-09}}</ref><ref name=EU2005>{{cite news|last1=Garcia Nevett|first1=Isabel|title=The revolution hires opinion makers to clear its image: Fees are in Dollars|url=http://www.eluniversal.com/2005/03/26/en_pol_art_26A545233|accessdate=25 March 2015|agency=[[El Universal (Caracas)|El Universal]]|date=26 March 2005}}</ref> its stated mission was to "prevent US intervention in Venezuela".<ref name="FARAUSDOJ">{{Cite web|url=http://www.fara.gov/docs/5609-Exhibit-AB-20040227-HVRFJZ04.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=US Department of Justice|title=FARA US Department of Justice|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref> Created and financed by the [[government of Venezuela]],<ref name=globe300106>{{cite news | url = http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2006/01/30/venezuelan_oil_marks_chavezs_latest_bid_to_win_over_us/ | title = Venezuelan oil marks Chavez's latest bid to win over U.S. | last = Melia | first = Michael | work = [[Boston Globe]] | date = 30 January 2006 | accessdate = 2009-02-09}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> VIO was registered with the [[United States Department of Justice]] under the [[Foreign Agents Registration Act]].<ref name=FARA04>[[Foreign Agents Registration Act]] - [http://proveo.org/viofara0804.pdf Venezuela Information Office - FARA fillings 29.08.04]</ref>
The '''Venezuela Information Office''' (VIO) was a [[Washington, DC]]-based [[lobbying]] agency with the goal of improving the perception of [[Venezuela]] the the United States;<ref>{{cite news | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00EFDD1538F933A0575AC0A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 | title = Venezuela's government seeks to show that its oil riches are well spent | last = Forero | first = Juan | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = 30 September 2004| accessdate = 2009-02-09}}</ref> its stated mission was to "prevent US intervention in Venezuela".<ref name="FARAUSDOJ">{{Cite web|url=http://www.fara.gov/docs/5609-Exhibit-AB-20040227-HVRFJZ04.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=US Department of Justice|title=FARA US Department of Justice|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref> Created and financed by the [[government of Venezuela]],<ref name=globe300106>{{cite news | url = http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2006/01/30/venezuelan_oil_marks_chavezs_latest_bid_to_win_over_us/ | title = Venezuelan oil marks Chavez's latest bid to win over U.S. | last = Melia | first = Michael | work = [[Boston Globe]] | date = 30 January 2006 | accessdate = 2009-02-09}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> VIO was registered with the [[United States Department of Justice]] under the [[Foreign Agents Registration Act]].<ref name=FARA04>[[Foreign Agents Registration Act]] - [http://proveo.org/viofara0804.pdf Venezuela Information Office - FARA fillings 29.08.04]</ref>


In February 2004, the VIO closed and then suddenly reopened months later.<ref name=EU2005/> As of February 2010, the organisation has issued no press releases via its website since November 2008.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}
In February 2004, the VIO closed and then suddenly reopened months later.<ref name=EU2005/> As of February 2010, the has issued no press releases via its website since November 2008.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}


==Work==
==Work==
According to the VIO, the agency sought "to present a more accurate view of the current process in Venezuela for the US public, build strategic allies for the Venezuelan people, and prevent the US government from intervening in the democratic process in Venezuela". The VIO worked to deny alleged "lies" that were supposedly published by the international and Venezuelan media and used journalists and political analysts to spread "positive information on the revolution in the US media and among politicians".<ref name=EU2005/>
According to the VIO, the agency sought "to present a more accurate view of the current process in Venezuela for the US public, build strategic allies for the Venezuelan people, and prevent the US government from intervening in the democratic process in Venezuela".


In addition to maintaining a public website and a [[blog]], VIO promoted its views in the media in a number of ways, including issuing press releases, contributing articles (such as responses to the 2008 [[Human Rights Watch]] report<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2008/09/18/decade-under-ch-vez|title= A Decade Under Chávez: Political Intolerance and Lost Opportunities for Advancing Human Rights in Venezuela|last=Holland|first=Alisha|author2=Brett, S. |author3=Taraciuk, T. |author4=Wilkinson, D. |author5=Fillippini, L. |author6=Loxton, J. |date=22 September 2008|publisher=Human Rights Watch|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> on Venezuela<ref>Venezuela Information Office, ''Monthly Review'', 22 September 2008, [http://www.monthlyreview.org/mrzine/venezuela220908.html The Truth Suffers in Human Rights Watch Report on Venezuela]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/19/venezuela.humanrights|title=Human Rights Watch condemns Chávez's decade in power|last=Carroll|first=Rori|date=9 September 2008 |publisher=''[[The Guardian]]''|accessdate=2009-03-12}}</ref>), and being available for interviews. They also denied supposed lies using e-mails, sending letters to the editor, writing articles, and using video documentaries such as ''[[The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (film)|The Revolution Will Not Be Televised]]''.<ref name=EU2005/>
In addition to maintaining a public website and a [[blog]], VIO promoted its views in the media in a number of ways, including issuing press releases, contributing articles (such as responses to the 2008 [[Human Rights Watch]] report<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2008/09/18/decade-under-ch-vez|title= A Decade Under Chávez: Political Intolerance and Lost Opportunities for Advancing Human Rights in Venezuela|last=Holland|first=Alisha|author2=Brett, S. |author3=Taraciuk, T. |author4=Wilkinson, D. |author5=Fillippini, L. |author6=Loxton, J. |date=22 September 2008|publisher=Human Rights Watch|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> on Venezuela<ref>Venezuela Information Office, ''Monthly Review'', 22 September 2008, [http://www.monthlyreview.org/mrzine/venezuela220908.html The Truth Suffers in Human Rights Watch Report on Venezuela]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/19/venezuela.humanrights|title=Human Rights Watch condemns Chávez's decade in power|last=Carroll|first=Rori|date=9 September 2008 |publisher=''[[The Guardian]]''|accessdate=2009-03-12}}</ref>), and being available for interviews.


In September 2003, VIO contacted [[Global Exchange]] in order to "ensure success" of their campaign.<ref name=EU2005>{{cite news|last1=Garcia Nevett|first1=Isabel|title=The revolution hires opinion makers to clear its image: Fees are in Dollars|url=en_pol_art_26A545233|accessdate=25 March 2015|agency=[[El Universal (Caracas)|El Universal]]|date=26 March 2005}}</ref> In 2004 it also contracted [[public relations]] company [[Michael Shellenberger#Lumina Strategies|Lumina Strategies]] to help [[Lobbying|lobby]] for the Venezuelan government and improve the poor image of then President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, in the United States.<ref name="Lumina Strategies' filing to US DoJ Foreign Agent Registration Unit">{{Cite web|url=http://www.fara.gov/docs/5624-Exhibit-AB-20040520-HYN72M04.pdf|format=PDF|title=Lumina Strategies' filing to US DoJ Foreign Agent Registration Unit|publisher=United States Department of Justice|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Collier|first1=Robert|title=Venezuelan politics suit Bay Area activists' talents|accessdate=4 March 2015|agency=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|publisher=Hearst Communications Inc., Hearst Newspapers Division|date=21 August 2004}}</ref> Reporters that had questions for the VIO were directed to Lumina.<ref name=JJmiller/>
VIO [[ ]] in .<ref>:== ]</ref> In 2004 it also contracted [[public relations]] company [[Michael Shellenberger#Lumina Strategies|Lumina Strategies]] to and the of .<ref name="Lumina Strategies' filing to US DoJ Foreign Agent Registration Unit">{{Cite web|url=http://www.fara.gov/docs/5624-Exhibit-AB-20040520-HYN72M04.pdf|format=PDF|title=Lumina Strategies' filing to US DoJ Foreign Agent Registration Unit|publisher=United States Department of Justice|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Collier|first1=Robert|title=Venezuelan politics suit Bay Area activists' talents|accessdate=4 March 2015|agency=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|publisher=Hearst Communications Inc., Hearst Newspapers Division|date=21 August 2004}}</ref>


==Critical reception==
According to public records the VIO spent $379,000 on lobbying the [[United States Congress|US Congress]] in the years 2004 to 2007.<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?lname=Venezuela+Information+Office&year=2004 opensecrets.org, Venezuela Information Office entry]</ref>
⚫
[[Douglas Schoen]] and [[Michael Rowan]]<ref name="TCHchavez">{{cite book|last=Schoen|first=Douglas|title=The threat closer to home : Hugo Chávez and the war against America|date=2009|publisher=Free Press|location=New York|isbn=978-1416594772|edition=Free Press hardcover ed.|author2=Rowan, Michael }}</ref><ref name="JJmiller">{{cite journal|last1=Miller|first1=John J.|title=Friends of Hugo|journal=National Review|date=27 December 2004|volume=56|issue=24|pages=36 - 37|accessdate=23 September 2014}}</ref><ref name=HEortiz />

==Personnel==
[[Deborah James]], who is currently an employee of the [[Center for Economic and Policy Research|Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR)]], was the Executive director of the VIO until Olivia Goumbri became the VIO's Executive Director as of 2009. Another CEPR employee, Alexander Main, was an analyst for the VIO as well.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/24/improving-conditions/|work= Washington Times|date= 24 January 2009| title= Letter to Editor: Improving conditions |author=Goumbri, Olivia|accessdate=2009-02-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Deborah James|url=http://www.globalexchange.org/events/speaker/deborah-james|website=Global Exchange|accessdate=15 September 2014}}</ref><ref>CEPR website, [http://www.cepr.net/index.php/staff/ Staff Listing], accessed 27 September 2012</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Daza Tapia|first1=Andrea|title=Agentes recargan fuerzas para batallar por la “revolución”|url=http://www.lazotacalles.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/El-Pa%C3%ADs-en-el-Imperio.pdf|accessdate=15 September 2014|agency=El Mundo|date=20 October 2009}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{unbalanced|section|date=March 2015}}
⚫
[[Douglas Schoen]] and [[Michael Rowan]] along with [[conservative]] journals have accused the VIO of being used for one of Hugo Chávez's "modern propaganda techniques", as part of a "[[propaganda]] operation in the United States".<ref name="TCHchavez">{{cite book|last=Schoen|first=Douglas|title=The threat closer to home : Hugo Chávez and the war against America|date=2009|publisher=Free Press|location=New York|isbn=978-1416594772|edition=Free Press hardcover ed.|author2=Rowan, Michael }}</ref><ref name="JJmiller">{{cite journal|last1=Miller|first1=John J.|title=Friends of Hugo|journal=National Review|date=27 December 2004|volume=56|issue=24|pages=36 - 37|accessdate=23 September 2014}}</ref><ref name=HEortiz>{{cite journal|last1=Ortiz|first1=Ana Maria|last2=Vadum|first2=Matthew|title=Marxist Hugo Chavez Calls on Friends in America|journal=Human Events|volume=64|issue=10|accessdate=23 September 2014}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==

Revision as of 14:51, 27 March 2015

Venezuela Information Office (VIO)
Formation2004
TypeLobbying
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
OwnerGovernment of Venezuela
Executive Director
Olivia Goumbri
Key people
Deborah James (former Executive Director)
The Venezuela Information Office (VIO) was located in The Toronto (pictured) in Washington, D.C.

The Venezuela Information Office (VIO) was a Washington, DC-based lobbying agency with the goal of improving the perception of Venezuela in the United States, and establishing the conditions for improving U.S.-Venezuelan relations;[1] its stated mission was to "prevent US intervention in Venezuela".[2] Created and financed by the government of Venezuela,[3] VIO was registered with the United States Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.[4]

In February 2004, the VIO closed and then suddenly reopened months later.[5] As of February 2010, the organization has issued no press releases via its website since November 2008.[citation needed]

Work

According to the VIO, the agency sought "to present a more accurate view of the current process in Venezuela for the US public, build strategic allies for the Venezuelan people, and prevent the US government from intervening in the democratic process in Venezuela".

In addition to maintaining a public website and a blog, VIO promoted its views in the media in a number of ways, including issuing press releases, contributing articles (such as responses to the 2008 Human Rights Watch report[6] on Venezuela[7][8]), and being available for interviews.

According to public records the VIO spent $379,000 on lobbying the US Congress in the years 2004 to 2007.[9] In 2004 it also contracted public relations company Lumina Strategies "to communicate with and educate the media and members of Congress".[10][11]

Critical reception

Douglas Schoen and Michael Rowan[12] along with conservative journals have accused the VIO of being used for one of Hugo Chávez's "modern propaganda techniques", as part of a "propaganda operation in the United States".[12][13][14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Forero, Juan (30 September 2004). "Venezuela's government seeks to show that its oil riches are well spent". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  2. ^ "FARA US Department of Justice" (PDF). US Department of Justice. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  3. ^ Melia, Michael (30 January 2006). "Venezuelan oil marks Chavez's latest bid to win over U.S." Boston Globe. Retrieved 2009-02-09. [dead link‍]
  4. ^ Foreign Agents Registration Act - Venezuela Information Office - FARA fillings 29.08.04
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference EU2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Holland, Alisha; Brett, S.; Taraciuk, T.; Wilkinson, D.; Fillippini, L.; Loxton, J. (22 September 2008). "A Decade Under Chávez: Political Intolerance and Lost Opportunities for Advancing Human Rights in Venezuela". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  7. ^ Venezuela Information Office, Monthly Review, 22 September 2008, The Truth Suffers in Human Rights Watch Report on Venezuela
  8. ^ Carroll, Rori (9 September 2008). "Human Rights Watch condemns Chávez's decade in power". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-03-12. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ opensecrets.org, Venezuela Information Office entry
  10. ^ "Lumina Strategies' filing to US DoJ Foreign Agent Registration Unit" (PDF). United States Department of Justice. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  11. ^ Collier, Robert (21 August 2004). "Venezuelan politics suit Bay Area activists' talents". Hearst Communications Inc., Hearst Newspapers Division. San Francisco Chronicle. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  12. ^ a b Schoen, Douglas; Rowan, Michael (2009). The threat closer to home : Hugo Chávez and the war against America (Free Press hardcover ed. ed.). New York: Free Press. ISBN 978-1416594772. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  13. ^ Miller, John J. (27 December 2004). "Friends of Hugo". National Review. 56 (24): 36–37. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference HEortiz was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

Bibliogrpahy

  • Miller, John J. (27 December 2004). "Friends of Hugo". National Review. 56 (24): 36–37. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  • Ortiz, Ana Maria; Vadum, Matthew. "Marxist Hugo Chavez Calls on Friends in America". Human Events. 64 (10). {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  • Schoen, Douglas; Rowan, Michael (2009). The threat closer to home : Hugo Chávez and the war against America (Free Press hardcover ed. ed.). New York: Free Press. ISBN 978-1416594772. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
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