Ever since a minor earthquake rumbled through the concrete sprawl of Caracas in early May, the foundations of Venezuela’s last remaining flagrantly anti-government television station have looked unstable.

The 24-hour news channel Globovisión’s coverage of the earthquake so incensed President Hugo Chávez – who accused the reports of inciting fear – that the channel worries its days are numbered. Although many argue free speech itself is not yet under threat in Venezuela, Globovisión has become the favourite new target of the combative president, who accuses it of “media terrorism” and of “poisoning” the people.