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Press Freedom

Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora vows to keep fighting after being released to house arrest

Zamora, known for exposing corruption, had been behind bars for more than two years in a detention observers say was mired in irregularities. “I have the spirit, courage and faith” to keep fighting, he says.

The Capitolio in Havana, Cuba (Getty Images/Canva)

New wave of repression hits independent press amid arrival of Cuba’s new communications law

The Cuban regime has intensified repression against independent journalists, subjecting them to interrogations and threats, and accusing them of being mercenaries. Watchdogs say these actions seek to silence the independent press and force journalists to abandon their profession or go into exile.

A collage featuring five political figures from Latin America: President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela.

Governments across Latin America are tightening their grip on non-profits, squeezing out independent journalism

Lawmakers from the left and the right are drafting ‘foreign agent’ laws they claim protect their national sovereignty. They also threaten independent news outlets that rely on international funding.

Créditos: El Estor, 22 de octubre de 2021. Foto Nelton Rivera

Prensa Comunitaria redefines representation of marginalized populations in Guatemalan media

Despite threats, violence and criminalization against the journalistic profession in Guatemala, news agency Prensa Comunitaria has been changing the way women, youth and Indigenous peoples are covered in the media for 12 years.

A man, Anselmo Xunic from Cultural Survival, is inside a radio studio, sitting in front of a microphone. Behind him, a banner reads "las radios comunitarias, los pueblos indígenas."

Central American community radio stations, facing criminalization and persecution, are fighting for recognition and protection

Community broadcasters in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras face repression, economic hardship, and lack access to radio frequencies. They’re seeking help from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Nicaraguan parlament

Nicaragua’s regime expands repression to exiled journalists through sweeping cybercrime legislation

Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo's regime is wielding a new cybercrime law to target journalists – including those in exile – empowering authorities to seize their assets and monitor their family members in Nicaragua.

Julia Zanatta, federal deputy from Santa Catarina, dressed in pink with a crucifix on her chest and a flag in the background, inside the Chamber of Deputies

In Brazil, politicians are bombarding journalists with lawsuits over unfavorable coverage

Brazilian political and business leaders are opening flurries of lawsuits against multiple journalists all at once, with the effect of inhibiting future critical coverage.​

Woman Detained in Handcuffs Indoors.

Venezuelan authorities are detaining women journalists amid post-election repression

Three women reporters have been arrested and accused of terrorism, amid a broader crackdown on dissent across the country.

Ex-president's $5.5M suit jeopardizes leading Panama newspaper

La Prensa, a top Panamanian newspaper, faces a major lawsuit from ex-President Ernesto Pérez Balladares. The case underscores the growing threats to independent media in the country.

Latin American media and advocates join petition for UN Member States to strengthen commitment to journalism

The petition asks for stronger language in the Pact for the Future regarding guarantees for access to information, press freedom and journalism in the public interest.

AI anchors

Journalists in Venezuela protect themselves with AI avatars that present the news

Operación Retuit is a daily online newscast created by independent journalists hoping to bypass the censorship, persecution and increasing repression gripping post-election Venezuela.

Big tech supports El Salvador’s El Faro in legal battle against Pegasus spyware manufacturer

Microsoft and Google are among the companies asking a California court to reconsider a case they say has global consequences for press freedom and democracy.