texas-moody

Press Freedom

Jair Bolsonaro smiles during a ceremony with the Brazilian flag in the background

Brazil’s intelligence agency spied on reporters to discredit them, police say

A federal police report says Brazil’s intelligence agency illegally surveilled national and local journalists under the Bolsonaro administration. Victims say key details on how and why they were targeted remain hidden.

Megaphone with computer, map of the Americas, camera, notebook and cellphone

Key guide to protecting free speech in the Americas gets first update in 15 years

The revised legal framework from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights includes new standards on gender-based violence and online communication. In an interview with LJR, the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression warns of rising legal harassment and urges governments to prioritize online literacy as a tool for protecting free speech.

a special commission in the Dominican Republic Senate discusses a legislation

Freedom of expression returns to center of legislative debate in Dominican Republic

The proposed legislation has led to mixed reactions from sectors that see it either as a chance to modernize or a threat to press freedom. The text also proposes the creation of a regulatory body that, according to critics, could open the door to censorship.

With elections nearing, Honduran journalists face violence and harassment

The murder of two journalists is the latest sign of mounting threats to the press in Honduras. Media advocates warn the rising violence is a threat to democracy across the region.

Close up of a Visa Spamp in a Passport.

How Trump's immigration policies are affecting Latin American journalists inside and outside the United States

Trump's new travel ban has generated fear and uncertainty among foreign journalists. Reporters traveling to or from the U.S. to cover and attend events fear not being able to get in or return.

Gerall Chávez, journalist of Nicaragua Actual, holding his Nicaraguan passport and the request for citizenship to the Spanish government.

Nicaraguan journalists ask Spain for citizenship after being left in legal limbo

A group of seven Nicaraguan journalists exiled in Costa Rica have been unable to renew their identification documents and consider themselves "de facto stateless." They hope to obtain Spanish citizenship, just like their other colleagues banished from home.

President Nayib Bukele looks ahead during a speech marking El Salvador's 203rd Independence Day anniversary, 15 September 2024

Bukele escalates crackdown as Salvadoran press faces critical moment

An aggressive new law taxing foreign funding, along with arrests of government critics, signals a deepening authoritarian turn in El Salvador.

Colombian reporters seek justice despite sanctions on Army personnel over illegal surveillance

Nine military personnel were sanctioned for monitoring and profiling 130 people, including 30 journalists. But for investigative outlet Rutas del Conflicto, the punishment overlooks long-term harm.

The female perspective gains ground in the historically male-dominated field of photojournalism

Although recognition of women photojournalists in Latin America has grown in recent years, the industry remains predominantly male. Recent data shows that only 22% of submissions to World Press Photo came from women.

screenshot of a telethon. A singer and a radio host.

Venezuelan journalists, artists and influencers join forces for telethon raising funds for independent journalism

Independent journalism in Venezuela faces a serious crisis due to censorship, persecution and a lack of funding, a situation that has prompted solidarity initiatives such as the Vaca Mediática. This project seeks not only to fund journalistic work but also to send a message of unity and resistance in the face of repression.

In Michoacán, journalists propose a law to criminalize hate speech after a reporter’s killing.

Two Mexican states take opposing paths on journalist protection

In Michoacán, journalists propose a law to criminalize hate speech after a reporter’s killing. In Puebla, a bill draws criticism for excluding journalist input and potentially restricting free expression.

Representatives of the Nicaraguan newspaper La Prensa receive the 2025 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize at a ceremony in Brussels, Belgium.

La Prensa’s journalism is a blow to Nicaragua’s dictatorship, says newspaper manager

The Ortega-Murillo regime withdrew from UNESCO after it awarded its press freedom prize to the Nicaraguan newspaper. La Prensa General Manager Juan Lorenzo Holmann Chamorro said the regime’s reaction shows the importance of the paper's work.