This document analyzes polarization in editorials and op-eds regarding Colombia's peace process between August and December 2012. It finds that while most position statements were impartial, there was polarization among columnists and between columnists and the overall editorial line of each media outlet. It analyzed over 3,000 pieces from 10 major Colombian newspapers and magazines and found a polarization level of 0.455 among columnists and 0.455 between columnists and the editorial line of each medium. It concludes there was polarization at the level of political elites regarding the peace talks.

1. Peace as a Punching Bag:
Elite Framing and Polarization in Op-ed Pieces,
Opinion Pieces and Editorials in Colombia.

2. WHO WE ARE

3. Media
Intelligence
Social Media
Analysis
Strategic
Alerts
Media
Monitoring
Plain Language Media Lab

4. Media Lab

5. METHODOLOGY

6. Permanent

7. Universe

8. Systematic

9. Editorials, Op-ed
Pieces & Opinion
Pieces
“
”
Position
Statements

10. “
”
Position
Statements
Tone Subject
Against
For
Impartial
Issues
People
Organizations

11. Our plan

15. SHIFT IN THE
AGENDA
Peace Process in Colombia

16. Peace
Talks
Total
10 30 345 72100223
810 998 1337 105713351388
July August September DecemberNovemberOctober

17. Impartial Position Statements Dominate

18. Position statements “for”and “against”

19. Position statements “for”and “against”
Gallup Agosto Gallup Octubre Gallup Diciembre Gallup Febrero 2013

20. How regional elites were facing the peace process

21. Table No. 1: General distribution of op-eds and editorials in national media (August 21,
2012 - December 31, 2012).
Medium Op-eds &
Editorials
Op-eds &
Editorials on
Peace Talks
Estimated
Audience
(EGM, 2012)
Largest
circulation city
El Espectador 1.304 185 (14%) 231.000 Bogota
El Colombiano 1.011 160 (16%) 157.300 Medellín
El Tiempo 952 144 (15%) 1,108,900 Bogota
El País 661 115 (17%) Cali
El Heraldo 608 73 (12%) 130.200 Barranquilla
Portafolio* 401 30 (7%) 74.100 Bogota
La República* 375 29 (7%) ***37,600 Bogota
R. Semana** 87 19 (21%) 1,300,000 Bogota
La Silla Vacía 72 10 (14%) Digital
R. Dinero* 44 2 (4%) 400.000 Bogota
* Economics Media
**Semana is a weekly publication; Revista Dinero is a monthly publication.
*** Other sources assert that readership of La República is 17,951.
Why 10 media outlets

22. Question
Is there polarization in Colombia at the level of the political elites
regarding the peace talks?
Among
Columnists
Among
Columnists of
each media
Polarization inside
each medium vs
medium's position
Polarization among
editorial lines

23. RESULTS

24. 0,459
0,453
0,475
0,432
0,46
0,475
0,489
0,328
0,115
El Tiempo
El Espectador
El Heraldo
El Colombiano
El País
Portafolio
La República
La Silla Vacia
Semana
Polarización entre columnistas
Polarization columnists
Polarization: 0,455

25. Rate of favorable opinions

26. Polarization columnists vs editorials
0,652
0,65
0,567
0,431
0,708
0,584
0,64
0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,9 1
La República
Portafolio
El País
El Colombiano
El Heraldo
El Espectador
El Tiempo
Polarización Columnista vs. Editorial
Polarization: 0,455

27. DISCUSSION

28. The Research Team
Juan F. Giraldo
Political Scientist, Public Opinion
Specialist and Master in National
Security and Defense. Political
communication and political
persuasion professor at
Universidad Javeriana. Founding
Partner Global News Intelligence
Latinoamérica
Carolina Montealegre
Political Scientist, Director of
Global News Intelligence
Latinoamérica Media Lab
Nicolás Santamaría
Political Scientist and Magister in
Political Science. Currently
performing as researcher in
Universidad de los Andes'
Congreso Visible.
Julián Varón
Economist and Political Scientist
from Universidad de los Andes and
student at this university's
Economy Master's program.
Currently performing as researcher
in Universidad de los Andes'
Congreso Visible.

29. @JuanFGiraldo
@Cmonteal
@GlobalNewsIntel