Journalists in Colombia warned that declining working conditions for the press could become more pronounced in 2022, an election year. The Federation of Colombian Journalists (Fecolper, by its Spanish acronym), released a report title “Unprotected on Feb. 9, the Day of the Journalist in Colombia, assessing the state of journalism and the challenges Colombian journalists face.
A study carried out by Gênero e Número in partnership with Reporters Without Borders (RSF) presents data, testimonials and in-depth interviews on the impacts and effects of online disinformation and violence on the daily lives of women and LGBT+ journalists.
To mark World Press Freedom Day, LatAm Journalism Review (LJR) decided to revive a social media campaign in which we ask journalists from Latin America a simple question: “Why is press freedom important to you?”
Threats and obstacles to journalism in the digital environment will be the topics discussed during this year's commemoration of World Press Freedom Day. Progress will also be analyzed on journalists' safety and impunity, on the 10th anniversary of the UN Plan of Action on this issue.
A surveillance environment in Venezuela has led to the beginning of doubt against free expression – the beginning of self-censorship. Venezuelan journalists have had to find a way to reinvent themselves between censorship, threats, misinformation and media sanctions.
Four years after the social outbreak of 2018 in Nicaragua, more than 120 journalists have gone into exile, at least 20 media have been confiscated, there are no printed newspapers circulating in the country and six journalists have received sentences ranging from 7 to 13 years in prison, with fines in the millions. However, the independent Nicaraguan press continues to fight for freedom, both from inside the country and in exile.
Over the past decade, press freedom around the world is deteriorating and the list of countries facing issues has been growing. With the testimonial of seven journalists from Asia and Latin America, ISOJ 2022 debated the state of press freedom and the serious situation reporters are recently facing in India, Hong Kong, Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.
As violence against journalists has increased in Latin America, several countries have created protection mechanisms designed to implement safety measures for journalists reporting attacks or threats against them.
The main responsibilities of a journalist should be to report reality as it is and to serve as a counterweight to power without being afraid to take a stand in the face of acts of authoritarianism, human rights violations and corruption, said the journalist in a conversation with the managing editor of El País, Borja Echevarría.
Founded by a group of lawyers specializing in the defense of freedom of expression, the Tornavoz nonprofit will remunerate lawyers who work in cases received by the organization, in addition to providing technical assistance to the defense. The idea is for the remuneration to “strengthen the interest of lawyers in this area of practice,” Taís Gasparian, one of the directors and founders of the nonprofit, said.