texas-moody

Correspondent for the Ecuadorian newspaper El Universo receives death threat

By Liliana Honorato

An Ecuadorian journalist claimed to have received a death threat from two anonymous phone calls, reported the newspaper Hoy.

According to the non-governmental organization Fundamedios, journalist Antonio Medrano, correspondent for 15 years with the newspaper El Universo in the city of Babahoyo, Los Ríos, said that while he does not know who made the phone calls, the threat could be a reprisal for his coverage of security, justice and current affairs for El Universo.

El Universo is known internationally for losing a libel lawsuit filed by Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa in February 2012 against the opinion columnist Emilio Palacio and the newspaper's directors. After wide condemnation from many international organizations, the president dropped the charges later that month.

Medrano said that he will file a complaint about the threat with the authorities, reported the newspaper El Diario.

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.