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Press Freedom

Peruvian journalist rejects congressional summons in Odebrecht probe

"Peruvian journalist Gustavo Gorriti, head of the investigative outlet IDL-Reporteros, said he will not comply with a summons from a congressional committee investigating the country’s plea agreement with Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht. In a public letter, Gorriti questioned the legitimacy and impartiality of the multiparty investigative committee, which is led by lawmaker Alejandro Muñante. The […]

Panama court dismisses $1M defamation suit against La Prensa, IAPA calls it a press freedom win

“The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) welcomes the recent ruling by Panama's Supreme Court of Justice, which dismissed a civil lawsuit against the newspaper La Prensa. The IAPA sees this as a landmark precedent in defending freedom of expression and citizens’ right to be informed. The ruling, issued by the First Civil Chamber and written […]

Suspicious package and hate message left at journalists' union in Brazil

"A provocation to the Union of Professional Journalists (SJPMG, for its initials in Portuguese) and the Journalist's House caused great concern, on the afternoon of this Tuesday (July 22), with the need for mobilization of the Military Police and the Special Police Operations Battalion. In the morning, a suspicious package was left on the steps […]

Independent journalists in Honduras face economic hardship, censorship and violence

"Economic instability and financial hardship continue to hinder independent journalism in Honduras. Those who commit to transparent reporting face daily obstacles that prevent the growth of alternative media serving the country. Journalists engaged in investigative and in-depth reporting regularly confront challenges such as limited technological infrastructure, threats to freedom of expression, censorship, self-censorship and violence. […]

Costa Rican court upholds journalist’s right to protect sources in high-profile corruption case

"Journalist Mercedes Agüero, a former reporter for the newspaper La Nación, testified Tuesday [July 29] in the trial over alleged influence peddling involving former San José mayor Johnny Araya and former prosecutors Celso Gamboa and Berenice Smith. Agüero spoke about the process that led her to publish a report on the alleged removal of Araya’s […]

Dominican prosecutor probes media over alleged blackmail and defamation

"The chief prosecutor for the National District in the Dominican Republic, Rosalba Ramos, expressed serious concern Tuesday over what she described as a growing wave of public defamation and alleged media blackmail, which she said threatens to undermine journalism ethics in the country. Ramos said the Attorney General’s Office has opened an investigation in response […]

Calls grow for release of Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora, three years after his imprisonment

"Amnesty International and a group of press organizations called for the release of Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora on Tuesday [July 29], three years after his arrest on accusations of money laundering that they consider a setup to attack freedom of information. Zamora, 68, who is also accused of blackmail, has been in prison since […]

Venezuela accounts for half of Latin America’s exiled journalists since 2018

"A total of 913 journalists have been forced to leave their countries in Latin America from 2018 to 2024 to protect their lives, safety, or freedom. This is according to the report “Displaced Voices: An X-ray of Latin American Journalistic Exile 2018–2024,” published by Proledi at the University of Costa Rica, along with Fundamedios (USA) […]

IAPA says court orders, laws are censorship tools in Mexico

“The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) expressed ‘deep concern’ Tuesday over what it described as a resurgence of censorship mechanisms across various Mexican states. The organization pointed to an alarming pattern of attacks on freedom of expression through court rulings, legislative initiatives, and administrative pressure on independent media outlets. Among the most serious cases highlighted […]

FOPEA condemns restriction of access to information during so-called 'Derecha Fest' in Argentina

“The Argentine Journalism Forum (FOPEA, for its initials in Spanish) condemns the restriction on access to public information suffered by several journalists, especially Melisa Molina, a reporter for newspaper Página 12, on Tuesday, July 22 in Córdoba, at the so-called ‘Derecha Fest.' During the event, organized by a private organization and attended by President Javier […]

Venezuelan journalist freed after nearly a year, but press union says 19 still jailed for reporting

"Venezuela’s National Union of Press Workers (SNTP for its initials in Spanish) reported the release of journalist José Gregorio Camero on the night of July 21. The SNTP said Camero, like the other jailed journalists, was unjustly detained. ‘We continue to demand the release of the other 19 journalists and press workers who remain behind […]

Colombian presidential aide draws criticism for calling to control ‘submissive journalism’

Alfredo Saade, chief of staff to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, is the subject of a new controversy after he posted a message on social media that critics say signals an attempt to censor the press. 'Submissive journalism must be controlled,' Saade wrote on X on Monday, July 21. While he didn’t mention any specific outlets […]