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Costa Rica’s president-elect pledges respect for press freedom

"Laura Fernández, the candidate of the ruling Sovereign People's Party (PPSO) for the presidency of Costa Rica, declared the inauguration of the 'Third Republic' this Sunday [Feb. 1] after winning the elections with 48.51% of the vote. She promised 'changes' regarding 'the way the opposition acts toward the government and the political parties,' also framing […]

Venezuelan press union reports previously undisclosed journalist detention

"The National Union of Press Workers (SNTP, by its acronym in Spanish) denounced on Friday, Jan. 30, a new case of a detained journalist, which had not been previously reported. The journalist in question is Pedro Urribarri, a graduate of Santa María University. In its statement, the SNTP detailed that Urribarri was arrested on May […]

Breach/Valdez Award opens call for submissions for 8th edition

"The Breach/Valdez Award for Journalism and Human Rights recognizes the work of journalists in Mexico whose work in 2025 focused on the protection, defense and promotion of human rights. The organizations that sponsor the Breach/Valdez Award are making a special appeal to journalists to submit entries from across Mexico, offering a local perspective and recognizing […]

Brazilian Supreme Court justice dismisses journalist's complaint related to leaking of judicial messaging

"Supreme Federal Court (STF, for its Portuguese acronym) Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the dismissal of a criminal complaint that sought the opening of an investigation against former Superior Electoral Court (TSE) advisor Eduardo Tagliaferro and bloggers David Ágape and Eli Vieira, linked to the leaking of messages from auxiliary judges of Moraes at the […]

State Security arrests and prevents Cuban journalist Yoani Sánchez from attending event with U.S. diplomat in Havana

"The independent journalist and activist Yoani Sánchez, director of the digital media 14ymedio, was arrested this Wednesday [Jan. 28] in the streets of Havana by State Security agents, in an attempt to prevent her from attending a diplomatic reception organized by the U.S. chief of mission in Cuba, Mike Hammer. According to the report published […]

Costa Rica’s press freedom hangs in the balance ahead of presidential election

"For decades, Costa Rica was held up as Central America’s democratic exception: a country without an army, with strong democratic institutions and a press able to scrutinize those in power without facing systematic retaliation. That reputation is now being tested as Costa Rica heads into presidential elections that will culminate in a first round on […]

Cuban authorities detain independent journalist for third time in 12 days

“Independent journalist Henry Constantin Ferreiro, head of the online news outlet La Hora de Cuba, posted a message on Facebook after his release on Monday [Jan. 26], following his arrest for the third time in January 2026, along with fellow journalist Alejandra García. Both were detained by State Security and released hours later. “ ‘My […]

Ecuadoran press groups warn bill could shield officials from criticism

When Camila León, an assembly member from the National Democratic Action (ADN for its initials in Spanish), introduced a bill to reform Article 396 of the Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code (COIP), she said: “Without a free press, there is no democracy.” Article 396 states that anyone who uses violent, aggressive or hostile expressions on social […]

Cuban journalists continue reporting on island even from exile

"The struggle to maintain independent reporting now falls largely on those outside the island. Through conversations with four exiled journalists, a picture emerges of a movement that is physically displaced but editorially undeterred. It is worth noting that there are still journalists in Cuba doing independent journalism despite their government’s repression. [...] There has been […]

Guerrilla leaders convicted for abducting journalists in Colombia's Catatumbo

"A specialized criminal court judge sentenced members of the self-proclaimed Central Command (Coce, for its Spanish acronym) of the ELN (National Liberation Army) and two other leaders of that guerrilla group for the abductions of seven journalists and two media workers that occurred in the Catatumbo region, in Norte de Santander, between 2016 and 2017. […]

Police in Sinaloa, Mexico, assault and threaten journalist covering armed confrontation

"Journalist Ernesto Martínez was attacked and threatened by agents of the Sinaloa State Public Security Secretariat [Mexico] while attempting to cover a story […] on Jan. 19. According to the organization Article 19 […], Martínez arrived at the Culiacán–Mazatlán highway to report on a confrontation between officers and civilians in which one person died. When […]

Journalism student released after conviction for incitement to hatred is overturned

"Venezuela’s National Union of Press Workers (SNTP for its initials in Spanish) confirmed on Sunday, Jan. 25, the release of journalism student Juan Francisco Alvarado, who had been detained for more than 10 months after being accused of the crime of inciting hatred. […] Alvarado was sentenced on Thursday, Jan. 22, to 15 years in […]