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Press Freedom

Photo of a middle aged man wearing a blue shirt against the national flag of Brazil

Journalists who criticize Brazilian governor face investigations and legal proceedings; the Supreme Court intervenes

Eighteen journalists in Brazil face legal cases after publishing about the state governor of Mato Grosso, Mauro Mendes. They argue that the police and judicial apparatus of the state is being used to silence voices that publish information unfavorable to the governor.

Despite ‘unfair’ trial and conviction that was annulled, Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora remains in prison

José Rubén Zamora Marroquín has already spent more than 570 days in the Mariscal Zavala prison in Guatemala despite having his sentence annulled. Added to that is the fact that various national and international organizations have highlighted the violations of human rights and international law throughout his case. In what seems to be the most recent strategy […]

Gustavo Gorriti

Journalists back director of Peruvian investigative site IDL-Reporteros in face of disinformation campaign

Journalists from different media, personalities and ordinary citizens from around the world reject a campaign of attacks and harassment against the director of Peruvian investigative journalism site IDL-Reporteros, Gustavo Gorriti.

Illustration depicting Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele holding a law book in front of several media microphones and a line of barbed wire, with the Salvadoran Presidential Palace as a background.

Journalists fear renewed hostility towards the press with Bukele's re-election in El Salvador

Journalists from El Salvador and press freedom organizations fear that, with the re-election of Nayib Bukele as president, harassment against journalists will worsen and reforms could be approved to criminalize their work.

man in a blue suit

'I haven't said goodbye, every day I think about what I would do if everything changed in Nicaragua:' journalist Miguel Mendoza

One year has passed since journalist Miguel Mendoza and 221 other political prisoners were banished from Nicaragua. From his new home in the U.S., Mendoza talks about the aftermath of his confinement and forced exile, as well as his career and special citation from the Cabot Prize.

Founder of nonprofit newsroom MLK50 and co-founder of exiled Russian news site Meduza complete keynote speaker lineup at 25th ISOJ

Women journalism leaders will take the stage at the 25th International Symposium on Online Journalism (ISOJ) to deliver all four keynote addresses at this special anniversary conference. The final two keynote speakers to be announced are Wendi C. Thomas, founder, editor and publisher of nonprofit newsroom MLK50, and Galina Timchenko, co-founder, CEO and publisher of Meduza, an independent Russian media outlet operating from Latvia.

Cuba, Guatemala and Nicaragua among countries with imprisoned journalists; Jailed journalists nearing record globally

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) published its annual report on imprisoned journalists around the world. Although no country in Latin America and the Caribbean is on the list of “the worst jailers,” the report highlights three cases in the region and points out that media outlets and journalists there still face threats to carry out their work

gavel

Political parties and candidates resort to lawsuits to silence journalists during elections: A growing trend in Brazil

A study by the Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism (Abraji) found a 14% increase in the number of lawsuits against journalists and media outlets asking for the removal of content related to the 2022 elections. This is compared to 2018. Researchers highlight the impact on press freedom and the democratic process, as well as trends for municipal elections in 2024.

Sculpture created in 1961 by the Brazilian artist Alfredo Ceschiatti, carved from a monolithic block of Petrópolis granite. It stands at 3.3 meters in height and 1.48 meters in width, representing the judiciary as a blindfolded woman holding a sword. The blindfold symbolizes impartiality in justice, while the sword signifies the strength, courage, order, and rule required to uphold the law

Are media outlets responsible for what’s said in interviews? Deciphering a Brazilian Supreme Court decision

Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court ruled in November that, when a media outlet publishes an interview that contains false information, legal responsibility for that information may fall on the outlet. In a country with a lack of legislation on the issue and where judicial harassment of journalists is growing, the decision worries experts.

crowd of people silhouette over a Panamanian flag

Attacks on journalists during anti-mining protests reveal growing hostility towards press in Panama

For more than a month, Panama was embroiled in protests against a state mining contract. While covering the conflict, journalists reported use of force and attacks by protesters and police. However, there is no precise record of the number of attacks around the country.

a lady justice statue with her mouth

Cases in Brazil and Chile illustrate how criminalization of defamation threatens press freedom in Latin America

The cases of Brazilian journalist Schirlei Alves and Chilean journalist Felipe Soto Cortés reveal the impact of the criminalization of defamation on press freedom in Latin America. A ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights against Chile points the way to combating the use of criminal law to silence journalists in the region.

vote ballot and camaras

Stigmatization and attacks on journalists affect journalistic practice during Latin American elections in 2023

Stigmatization, threats, detentions, and intimidation are some of the attacks faced by journalists when covering elections in Latin America. In the last semester of 2023, these attacks became evident in the electoral processes in Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela.