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E c u a d o r 12. PROFESSIONAL SECRECY OR PROTECTION
OF SOURCES As previously mentioned, the 1998 Constitution included professional
secrecy in its Article 81 as a means of protection for the journalist
and the news communicator. The protection was extended to those
who formally express opinions as contributors to the news media.
The Law of Practice of Professional Journalism provides: Art. 34: ?Except in cases expressly determined in the law and
the criminal code, no professional journalist shall be forced to
reveal sources of information.? This guarantee also protects individuals covered by Art. 16
of this law. The criminal code sanctions those who reveal professional secrets
by ordering: ?Whoever is privy by reason of status, profession,
employment or craft to a secret that may damage others if divulged,
and in fact divulges it without just cause, shall be sentenced to
prison for six months to three years and a fine from 50 to 500 sucres.?
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