FOTP 2013 Full Report

deletions. The role of online sources in the media landscape has become especially importantwith regard to breaking news. A 2012 study of Chinese public opinion and crisis managementreported that online sources accounted for nearly 65 percent of breaking news reports in 2011,versus just over 30 percent for traditional media.ColombiaStatus: Partly FreeLegal Environment: 11Political Environment: 26Economic Environment: 16Total Score: 53Survey Edition 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012Total Score, Status 59,PF 59,PF 60,PF 56,PF 55,PFColombia’s 1991 constitution guarantees the rights to freedom of expression and freedom ofinformation. However, attacks and threats against reporters persisted in 2012, and thegovernment continues to restrict the independence of journalists through criminal defamationcharges and legislation.Defamation remains a criminal offense, and there were two major cases in 2012. InFebruary, an appeals court in the department of Cundinamarca upheld a lower court’s libelconviction of Luis Agustín González, editor of the newspaper Cundinamarca Democrática,while annulling a defamation charge. González had written an editorial in 2008 that criticized aformer governor of Cundinamarca. His punishment was slightly reduced, to 18 months of jailtime and a financial penalty of 17 months’ wages. Colombia’s Supreme Court heard appeals inthe case in October but had not rendered a decision by year’s end. Separately, in August theSupreme Court’s Criminal Tribunal announced that it would file defamation charges againstCecilia Orozco of the Bogotá daily El Espectador for an opinion piece in which she criticized thecourt. Several days later, after an outcry from Colombian and international press organizations,the Supreme Court announced that it would drop the charges.Several laws or pending legislation in 2012 attracted concern from press freedomadvocates due to their potential to restrict the media. A consumer statute that took effect in Aprilassigns the media partial liability in cases of grossly misleading advertising. A decree passed inAugust forces telecommunications companies, including internet service providers, to createback doors that will facilitate government monitoring of citizens’ online activity. Throughout theyear, Congress continued to debate changes to the electoral code that many media expertsbelieved would place unconstitutional limits on political communication during campaignperiods.In June 2012, Congress passed a new Access to Public Information Law intended tobuttress existing rights guaranteed by the constitution and the 1985 Law Ordering the Publicityof Official Acts and Documents. The new law requires government agencies to make documentsrelated to public contracts, budgets, and personnel available to the public. It reduces themaximum period that such information can be kept confidential from 30 to 15 years, though thegovernment may extend that period for an additional 15 years under certain conditions. The law127