Violence Against Journalists Archives

moises sanchez in black in white against a black background

‘Empty promises’: Anniversary of murder of Mexican journalist Moisés Sánchez Cerezo marks almost 9 years without major progress

On Jan. 2, 2015, Mexican journalist Moisés Sánchez Cerezo was abducted from his home by armed men. Days later his body was found lifeless and with signs of torture. In the past almost nine years, his family has been dedicated to finding justice with different governments, without much success.

Composed illustration depicting Mexican journalist Alejandra Ibarra and a press vest with blood stains.

Murders of journalists in Mexico are not due to censorship, but to the role they play in their communities, says book author

An investigation by Mexican journalist Alejandra Ibarra revealed that it is not the information journalists disseminate that makes them assassination targets, but rather their roles as leaders and their stances on issues. She also argued out that Mexican officials see critical journalism as an affront and not a democratic function.

mural painted on a wall shows 4 journalists who disappeared in mexico

Mexico is the country with the most missing journalists in the world; cases have 100% impunity

Drug trafficking, narco-politics and negligence in dealing with the disappearances of journalists contribute to the total impunity for these crimes in Mexico. Disappearances have a similar social impact to murders and are even more devastating for the families of the disappeared, Sara Mendiola, from the organization Propuesta Cívica, told LatAm Journalism Review.

woman holding her hands up asking for respect during feminist demonstration

Study shows 83 percent of gender editors in Argentina targeted by online violence

Since 2019, 13 Argentine media outlets have created the position of gender editor, which makes the country the most fertile ground in Latin America for these professionals. An unpublished survey heard from 12 of them and found they are targets of online violence with frightening frequency, and that most of them are not intimidated by the attacks.

images of burning newspapers and images alluding to the lack of freedom of expression

Politicians and public officials are main source of attacks on journalists' reputations, report says

Journalists' reputations are under attack. The study 'Not just words: How reputational attacks harm journalists and undermine press freedom' found that most journalists surveyed globally suffered reputational damage at least once a month.

Drug trafficking causes journalists to self-censor in Brazil-Paraguay border towns

The advance of drug trafficking in the border region between Paraguay and Brazil puts journalists who report on the issue at risk. LatAm Journalism Review interviewed four reporters who told how they protect themselves from being exposed to threats from organized crime.

A camera, a newspaper and a microphone lay on the floor with a crime scene in the background.

With two journalists murdered in one week and seven so far this year, Mexico's press cries out for justice and protection

With the murders this month of Nelson Matus and Luis Martín Sánchez, seven journalists have now been murdered in Mexico so far in 2023, which has sparked condemnation from organizations worldwide. In Guerrero, the second most dangerous Mexican state for journalism, journalists' groups denounce impunity and demand security.

Tejidos Solidarios network provides crucial support to families of murdered and missing journalists in Mexico

To address the relentless violence and threats against journalists in Mexico, the human rights NGO Propuesta Cívica [Civic Proposal] established the Tejidos Solidarios [Weaving Solidarity] network. This initiative employs a unique methodology to provide psycho-emotional and legal support to the families of murdered and missing journalists. Additionally, it aims to honor their memory.

How journalists from 10 countries investigated organized crime in the Amazon in memory of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira

The Bruno and Dom Project, led by the French organization Forbidden Stories, brought together more than 50 journalists from 16 news outlets to continue the work of British journalist Dom Phillips, who was with Brazilian Indigenous affairs expert Bruno Pereira when the two were murdered in June 2022. LJR spoke with some of the journalists involved in this collaborative effort.

hand with pen tied to a rope, depicting the idea of freedom of the press

2022 was the most violent year for the press in Latin America, according to reports by Red Voces del Sur and Reporters Without Borders

In the framework of World Press Freedom Day, the Southern Voices Network and Reporters Without Borders presented annual reports on violations of freedom of expression, freedom of the press and access to information in Latin America. 2022 was a violent year with 31 murders and almost 2 thousand attacks against journalists.

Threats from organized crime and government inaction in Ecuador prompt exile of journalists

The departure of two journalists from Ecuador after receiving death threats is the latest evidence of deteriorating security situation for these professionals in the country. While in exile, Karol Noroña spoke to LatAm Journalism Review (LJR) about the context, documented by civil society organizations, of the strengthening of organized crime and the inaction of the State to protect journalists.

Cover pages of newspapers from the North of Mexico with a map of the U.S.-Mexico border as a background.

Women reporters from northern Mexico share experiences on how to do investigative journalism amidst violence and job insecurity

In the panel "How to investigate corruption in the north of Mexico," part of the festival "Contra el Olvido [Against forgetting]," in the state of Tamaulipas, journalists Melva Frutos, Ana Victoria Félix, Priscila Cárdenas, and Shalma Castillo told how they face threats, lack of resources and indifference from society in their attempt to do investigative reporting on violence and corruption.