The seasoned journalist and host, Walter Martínez, famed for his international analysis program Dossier and his close ties to the Chavist regime, passed away on Thursday in Caracas.
The news was confirmed by Miguel Ángel Pérez Pirela, the Minister of Popular Power for Communication and Information. He shared a message on social media platform X, mourning Martínez's death and highlighting his significant impact on Venezuelan official communication.
"Walter Martínez has departed from our beloved, polluted, and unique spaceship," Pérez Pirela wrote.
He further noted, "Walter created a distinctive style, grounded in academic rigor and an extraordinary ability to unravel global geopolitics."
In his message, the minister stated that Martínez "brought distant realities into Venezuelan homes, enabling the audience to understand unfolding events with a depth rarely seen on conventional television."
He also conveyed condolences on behalf of interim President Delcy Rodríguez and the Bolivarian government: "We honor his memory, discipline, and the clarity that marked each of his broadcasts. The camera is yours, dear Walter."
Walter Martínez, a journalist and host with a long-standing career, is remembered for his iconic program, Dossier, broadcast for decades on Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), where he analyzed global current affairs with formal style, technical language, and a strong ideological slant.
Throughout his career, Martínez became a voice for the regime and Latin American leftist thought, staunchly supporting the dictatorships of Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro, while also maintaining an academic profile in the field of geopolitics.
Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1941, Martínez began his career in military journalism and became a naturalized Venezuelan in the 1970s.
His presence on camera, his deep voice, and his signature closing phrase—"The camera is yours"—became part of the country's audiovisual heritage.
In recent decades, his program Dossier remained one of the longest-running shows on Venezuelan state television, known for its critical stance towards the United States and Western governments, and for advocating for sovereignty and global multipolarity.
Martínez's death marks the end of an era in Venezuelan political communication. His figure, both controversial and respected, epitomized the media model promoted by Chavism since the 2000s.
Impact and Legacy of Walter Martínez
What was Walter Martínez known for?
Walter Martínez was known for his program Dossier, his distinctive style in geopolitical analysis, and his association with the pro-Chavist regime in Venezuela.
How did Walter Martínez contribute to Venezuelan media?
He brought complex global events into the homes of Venezuelans with a unique depth, influencing the nation's official communication and media landscape.
What was the significance of Martínez's program Dossier?
Dossier was a long-standing program on Venezuelan state television, known for its critical perspective on the US and Western policies, advocating for sovereignty and multipolarity.