Christmas in Colombia: Newsroom Joins Religion and Rumba Mix

By: Ronnie Lovler | 12/29/2011

Take, for example, the novenas spoken in this very Catholic country on each of the nine days leading up to Dec. 25. A novena is a moment where people get together to pray – but here it’s also a time to share food, drink and sometimes dancing, too.

The holiday spirit was in full swing at the facilities of our media partner, El Tiempo. There were daily novenas, usually on the lighter side, with an offering of something festive in the way of food or music. But the Catholic observance was prominent, too. So it should not have surprised me when a live, hour-long special on the El Tiempo owned-and-operated City TV kicked off with the anchor walking on the set crossing himself “in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Then the programming moved to live shots of City TV reporters who recited different parts of the prayers for that day’s novena. These were open displays of Catholic faith from reporters and TV journalists in a country that is dominantly Catholic but one with constitutional separation of church and state. Just maybe not always of church and media.

The holiday party for the news staff of El Tiempo – about 300 in all – was also in the spirit of Colombia – that is, of the rumba persuasion. The newspaper was put to bed early. And in this converged newsroom, where City TV shares space with El Tiempo, everyone knew that as soon as the evening newscast ended at 9 p.m. the party would begin. It actually started a bit earlier with a buffet offering of the traditional roast pig, or lechona. When the musicians arrived, the rumba began. And of course the dancing around newsroom computers went well into the early morning hours. But later that morning, everyone was back at work as usual. No problems, no remorse.

Colombians continue their celebrations of religion and rumba until Jan. 6 – Three Kings Day – which, because it falls on a Friday this year, means a long holiday weekend as well. For most people, it will NOT be business as usual until mid-January. But for newly elected government officials and the journalists who cover them the demands of their respective jobs kick in.

Newly elected government officials will take the oath of office on Jan. 1, just hours after the New Year’s Eve parties come to an end. This means that fewer than 24 hours into 2012, Colombia’s new mayors, governors and legislators should be hard at work, including Bogota’s incoming mayor, Gustavo Petro. Petro, a former guerrilla, has already served as both a congressman and a senator. As Bogota mayor, he will hold the second-highest elected office in the country after the presidency. So when the holidays are past, folks will be keeping a close eye on the Petro administration, to see what he will bring them in 2012.

Editor's note: Ronnie Lovler is a Knight International Journalism Fellow who is helping the largest newspaper in Colombia use crowdsourcing technology and mapping platforms to track issues of crime and violence.

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