Freedom of Expression Archives

Posts Tagged ‘ Freedom of Expression ’

In theory, the purpose of government advertising is to distribute information of public relevance to society.State advertising funds are meant to help governments communicate with the population about the services they provide and public policies they promote, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. In practice, however, government advertising funds form a crucial pillar of financial sustainability for many media outlets across Latin America. Without regulations defining how these funds should be distributed or transparency that shows where the money goes, the resources become ripe for corruption. They are frequently used as tools for indirect censorship, punishing independent journalism. These are some conclusions from a study published last week by the Latin American Observatory of Media Regulation and Convergence with support from UNESCO. The study, called "Official Advertising, Media, and Freedom of Expression,” diagnoses existing regulations on official advertising in 11 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and how they are implemented. Journalists, academics, and researchers from independent organizations in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay examined state advertising under the coordination of Uruguayan researcher Jimena Torres and guidance from Argentine researcher Santiago Marino. They sought to answer questions like: Are there specific laws regulating government advertising? Are there proactive mechanisms for disclosing these funds? Who is eligible to receive them? The diagnosis is quite negative. Few countries have adequate regulations, and when they do, they are not systematically enforced. In countries with smaller advertising markets, official advertising becomes critical for the sustainability of media outlets, and it is managed without transparency and with political bias. "Due to the absence of regulation and the logic behind its management, government advertising is administered from a friend-or-foe perspective, using very opaque criteria for its distribution," Santiago Marino, the chief researcher, told LatAm Journalism Review (LJR). "This, in turn, conditions both the operation and sustainability of media outlets." Funds without laws From the 11 countries studied, only Brazil, Mexico, and Peru have specific laws determining how government advertising funds should be allocated. But the mere existence of a regulation does not guarantee transparency, fairness, or that official advertising promotes pluralism in communication in any of these countries. Brazil's regulatory framework, from 2008, is the most praised in the study and is considered “sufficiently clear.” It distinguishes between institutional advertising and public-interest advertising, with clear limits on self-promotion by government officials and political parties. However, the allocation of funds is not made easily accessible, requiring more meticulous methods to verify. Additionally, the Brazilian law did not prevent the government of Jair Bolsonaro, in office from 2019 to 2022, from allocating funds to websites that publish false information. Furthermore, allocation criteria are strongly tied to audience size. “This parameter poses a problem for promoting pluralism by maintaining proportional transfers based on audience size, without investing in smaller, independent outlets,” the report says. In Mexico, the General Law on Social Communication, enacted in 2018 and amended in 2023, regulates the issue. However, according to the study, the law leaves room for arbitrary use of government advertising budgets because it does not establish clear rules and has not been effective. In Peru, even with various laws in place, the lack of clear allocation criteria means public entities distribute resources at their discretion. “Independent media, which are mostly critical of incumbent governments, have to seek alternative funding sources, as their stance often makes them targets of resistance to being granted official advertising,” the study says. This vulnerability to political interests is the general rule among the countries studied. “In general, we struggled to find good practices,” Jimena Torres, the study’s coordinator, told LJR. “In many cases, we ended up saying, ‘there are no good practices in this country.’” In Argentina, there is partial regulation for the federal executive branch but not for other branches of government. The study finds significant discretion in allocation, which becomes apparent in funds invested by public companies and other entities not directly under the national government. Argentina also demonstrates “a distribution logic based on rewards and punishments to media outlets or groups according to their editorial stance.” As a result of this practice, several media companies have emerged in recent years, sustained almost exclusively by public funds, the study finds. In Colombia, there is no specific regulation. As a result, ”the multimillion-dollar contracts for government advertising are distributed virtually without adherence to their intended purpose. “For years, they have been repeatedly used to pressure editorial lines or promote certain narratives,” the study says. Marino considers the case of El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele’s government takes authoritarian measures and persecutes journalists, particularly severe. “There is no regulation whatsoever to frame this activity within an informational pluralism approach,” the report says. “The government has implemented strategies to weaken the media ecosystem, including creating its own media outlets and redirecting official advertising funds to a state-run newspaper and an official news channel.” Geographic concentration Another recurring issue identified by the study is the concentration of resources in capitals and metropolitan areas, disadvantaging regional or local media outlets. “We live in media systems where news production and money are often concentrated in big cities,” said Jimena Torres. “For example, in my country, Uruguay, in a department called Cerro Largo, the main advertiser for local media is the municipality. This means there are often no news stories, or very few, that question what the municipality is doing.” The lack of advertising funds for non-commercial media is another problem, Marino said. Non-profit outlets are often excluded from government advertising, undermining their sustainability and reducing the diversity of voices. The study concludes with 15 recommendations. Among them is the need for “specific, clear, and unequivocal” laws to regulate the issue at all levels of government. The allocation of advertising should generally be through competitive processes, with direct contracts being the exception. Advertising must not serve as propaganda for political parties, and transparency must encompass all actors involved in the distribution of funds. Governments should also implement or promote audience measurement systems that include different types of media and use objective, reliable criteria. These measurements should incorporate data from small, community, and local media outlets to ensure their inclusion in allocating advertisements, avoiding their indirect exclusion. Finally, other public policies are necessary to support journalism, with resources that promote diversity and plurality in media, the study says. “For example, through public funds distributed transparently and non-discriminatorily, separate from government advertising expenditures,” the study concludes. “These resources must not be used to influence or condition the editorial line of these outlets.”

Latin American governments use state advertising to control the press, study finds

The analysis of public advertising in 11 countries across the region shows how governments misuse funds, rewarding loyalists and endangering independent news outlets.

Computer with a site denial message on screen

Journalists in Brazil reflect on how block of X/Twitter will affect their work

We talked to some of Brazil’s top journalists about the ban on X. Many are relieved, but one reports: “There's a gap in coverage that I don't know how to fill.”

A collage of various Chilean newspapers, websites, and magazines, showcasing significant publications from the country's history. The collage includes both contemporary and historical outlets, such as "La Aurora," "El Mercurio," "La Tercera," "La Nación," and "The Clinic". Some covers highlight pivotal historical events in Chile.

Author portrays history of journalism in Chile as constant tension between journalists, media and political power

In the book “Historia del Periodismo en Chile. De La Aurora a las Redes Sociales” ("History of journalism in Chile: from La Aurora to social media"), author Alfredo Sepúlveda explains over more than 500 pages how tensions between media, journalists and political power permeate the entire history of journalism in the country.

UNESCO report confirms quality journalism essential for democracy, accountability and civic engagement

A new UNESCO report confirms what many journalists and researchers have thought: quality journalism is good for democracy, civic engagement and government accountability. Further, public investment in it improves trust from citizens, and promotes human rights and sustainable development.

Five people seated in front of an audience in an auditorium, speaking on a panel. A big screen behind them shows images of Nicaragua

Exile, prison and death: Challenges for journalists in Nicaragua topic of discussion at Ibero-American Colloquium

The situation experienced by Nicaraguan journalists is one of the worst in the region, and was at the center of the debate, alongside examples of resistance and perseverance in the face of adversity, during the panel “Journalism in Nicaragua” at the 17th Ibero-American Colloquium on Digital Journalism.

Freedom of Expression, Artificial Intelligence, and Elections

The impact of AI on elections and freedom of expression: Register now for new free online course in five languages

The rise of artificial intelligence and other new technologies presents opportunities and challenges for journalists and communicators during elections. As a record number of people worldwide prepare to go to the polls this year, the need to understand the impact of technology on democratic processes has never been more urgent. To prepare key stakeholders for […]

Hombre con traje negro y camisa de rayas mirando a la cámara sonriendo en un fondo claro

‘It’s a complex region, but with a very vibrant press’: Carlos Lauría, executive director-elect of the Inter American Press Association

Argentine journalist Carlos Lauría will take over as executive director of the Inter American Press Association on Nov. 12. In an interview with LJR, he spoke about the challenges that lie ahead and his goals in supporting press freedom and media empowerment in the region.

Join more than 1,000 participants in free online course in Portuguese on Legal Framework for Freedom of Expression

Registration is still open for the massive online course “International Legal Framework on Freedom of Expression” offered in Portuguese by the University of Texas’ Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas and UNESCO. This four-week massive open online course (MOOC) began Monday, Sept. 11, and will continue until Oct. 8.

woman with leather jacket and scarf adjusts the camera while crouching on the street surrounded by rocks

Concern for journalists’ safety grows in Argentina after primary elections and crackdown in Jujuy

Recent primary elections in Argentina put the ultra-conservative candidate, Javier Milei, as the favorite, the same candidate who said he would scratch the government's media budget and who denounced five journalists. In Jujuy, security forces have detained and assaulted journalists covering popular demonstrations.

Enroll in free online course in Portuguese 'The International Legal Framework on Freedom of Expression'

Registration is open for a new free online course in Portuguese that will teach you how the international legal framework for freedom of expression, access to information and protection of journalists works, with an emphasis on its impact in Brazil. Journalists, lawyers, judges and other judicial operators are invited to register for this course taught by André Gustavo Corrêa de Andrade, a renowned Brazilian expert in freedom of expression.

Screen shot of Jovem Pan News broadcast during the invasion in Brasilia on January 8, 2023; caption reads "Demonstrators invade Congress, Supreme Court and presidential palace"

Unprecedented lawsuit threatens to shut down far right radio in Brazil, reigniting free speech discussion

A legal action that could take Brazil's radio station Jovem Pan off the air has once again fueled the debate on the limits of free speech. The lawsuit accuses the station of disseminating content that undermined the electoral process, incited civil disobedience, and promoted a coup. Experts weigh in on the case, highlighting the compatibility of the prosecution's claims with Brazilian legislation.

Dove flying and text that says World Press Freedom Day 2023

World Press Freedom Day: 30 years defending journalism

This 2023 marks 30 years since the UN General Assembly proclaimed May 3 as World Press Freedom Day. The main commemoration event will take place in New York, but events will also be held in Latin American countries. The date is an invitation for media professionals to reflect on press freedom and professional ethics.