Journalist advocacy organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF for its acronym in French) and TV5-Monde honored journalists and media outlets from Colombia, Mexico and El Salvador as nominees for their 2017 Press Freedom Prize.
Four of a total 18 journalists, citizen-journalists and media outlets nominated for the awards come from Latin America. The prizes have been given since 1992 to honor journalists or media outlets contributing to the defense of the freedom to inform, according to RSF.
Colombian photojournalist Miguel Gutierrez, who works for news agency EFE, was recognized for his work covering this year’s social crisis in Venezuela.
“Although he has been physically attacked and although some of his equipment was stolen while he was out reporting on May 2, he continues to working tirelessly in an increasingly polarized and dangerous environment,” RSF wrote of Gutierrez.
Mexican journalist Carmen Aristegui, who is host of the program Aristegui on CNN en español and editor of digital site Aristegui Noticias, was also nominated in the “journalist” category. RSF noted threats and harassment against the journalist, including a burglary at the news site’s offices and reports that she was targeted by spyware that had been purchased by the Mexican government.
Also in Mexico, Sinaloa-based weekly magazine Ríodoce was nominated in the media category. RSF noted how the investigative outlet has been targeted for its reporting, including the May 15 murder of co-founder Javier Valdez Cárdenas.
“His death sent a shockwave through Mexico and prompted many demonstrations of solidarity with Río Doce’s journalists,” RSF wrote.
And finally, Salvadoran online magazine Factum was recognized for its investigative report about an alleged death squad inside the police targeting gang members. RSF noted how it led to a judicial investigation, but also smear campaigns, harassment, intimidation and death threats. Digital site El Faro, which reported on the story, was also targeted.
Three entries will be chosen to receive the 2017 RSF-TV5 Press Freedom Prize on Nov. 7 in Strasbourg, France. Each winner will receive 2,500 euros (about US $2,913).
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
