Status: Free
Legal Environment: 5
Political Influences: 4
Economic Pressures: 6
Total Score: 15
Population: n/a
GNI/capita: n/a
Life Expectancy: 76
Religious Groups: Roman Catholic (94 percent), Protestant (6 percent)
Ethnic Groups: Portuguese, African minority
Capital: Lisbon
The constitution provides strong protections for freedom of the press, and the High Authority for the Media upholds the principles of a free and independent press. Laws prohibit insults against the government or the armed forces, although they are rarely enforced. In 2002, a Portuguese court ruled that authorities could bring charges against a journalist for refusing to reveal confidential sources in a criminal case. Most media outlets are independent of the government; however, print and broadcast ownership is concentrated in the hands of four main media companies.
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