I don't think the nytimes is trying to back the governments opinion. One the author is cherry picking times when the nytimes supported the government. But I'm

I don't think the nytimes is trying to back the governments opinion. One the author is cherry picking times when the nytimes supported the government. But I'm sure someone else could find plenty of times when they didn't. Secondly when they made the wrong call, I bet at least part of the reason was 2002 was a less connected time, and there was more trust in government. So if a bunch of government offficials tell the journalist Chavez is a terrible regime. And you happen to know a handful of anti Chavez individuals in Venezuela the journalist could easily make the wrong call.