SINART is the public media system operator in Costa Rica. In 2017, SINART underwent a rebranding process, Channel 13 being replaced by 13 Costa Rica TV and the radio no longer being called National but starting to be run under the name Costa Rica Radio 101.5 FM. SINART no longer publishes any print media. Its television channel broadcasts news, educational programs, music, cultural shows and entertainment. The Congress also has a contract with SINART to broadcast live on radio all its sessions.
Media assets
Television: Canal 13
Radio: Radio Nacional
State Media Matrix Typology: Captured Public/State-Managed (CaPu)
Ownership and governance
The Article 7 of Law No. 8346, known as the law on SINART, states that the company is led by an Executive Board that comprises a president (who is appointed by the government), a representative of the colleges of Costa Rica linked to the social sciences field (proposed by the colleges but also appointed by the government), a representative of the College of Rectors, a representative of the National Council of Rectors, a representative of the Ministry of Culture (appointed by the Minister or Acting Minister), an official of the Ministry of Education (appointed by the Minister or Acting Minister), a joint representative of the Ministries of Science and of the Environment, a representative of the rectors of the private universities, a prosecutor appointed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic. In March 2023, the government appointed Fernando Sandí as the new president of SINART.
Source of funding and budget
Officially, according to SINART’s managers, 30% of the company’s financial resources come from the public budget administered by the Ministry of Culture. The remaining 70% is generated through commercial services, including advertising sales. SINART also sells advertising to government agencies and public institutions.
In 2022, SINART had a total budget of CRC 7.7bn (US$ 11.5m), most of it, CRC 5.1bn being the company’s own revenues, and the remainder coming from the state budget, according to SINART’s latest financial report.
In recent years, SINART came under critical scrutiny, with articles in various media outlets in the country questioning the spending records at the outlet.
Editorial independence
Friendly interviews with government officials are common on SINART’s channels, but opposition political figures are also featured. News that is not necessarily favorable to the government is also aired, albeit only in a descriptive manner.
Overall, there was no evidence showing government editorial control at SINART.However, in recent years, accusations of censorship at SINART have intensified. Journalists interviewed for this report in 2023 confirmed that various topics are forbidden by SINART’s management. The channels run by SINART have been accused by various experts and politicians of churning out propaganda for President Rodrigo Chaves and his close associates.
The Law on SINART puts forward several provisions that guarantee the broadcaster’s independence. Article 4 of the Law states that SINART must observe principles of impartiality, truthfulness, respect for political, religious, social and cultural pluralism, as well as to promote free debates on relevant issues. SINART also has a Style Manual that lists ethical commitments on news coverage that the broadcaster’s journalists must abide by. SINART has a set of so-called Autonomous Regulations, approved by the company’s Executive Board, that came into force in October 2020. These regulations consist of rules that govern all internal activities and processes at SINART.
No independent assessment or oversight mechanism charged with validating the editorial independence of SINART’s media outlets has been identified.
August 2023