The Governing Council of the Gabo Foundation recognized Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora with its 2024 Recognition of Journalistic Excellence for his more than three decades work revealing corruption and abuses of power in his country. Zamora has been in prison for more than 650 days in connection with multiple controversial judicial proceedings.
Attacks on the press are undoubtedly one of the main challenges for media and journalists in Latin America. Talking about the state of digital journalism in the region also implies knowing the obstacles to press freedom. Journalists from Guatemala, Peru and Venezuela spoke about these challenges during the 17th Ibero-American Colloquium on Digital Journalism.
As part of closing remarks at the 25th International Symposium on Online Journalism, Romina Mella and José Zamora shed light on legal cases and jail time facing their colleague in Peru and father in Guatemala, respectively. ISOJ participants were called on to support these two renowned journalists.
Hundreds of Central American journalists have gone into exile in Costa Rica because they consider it a safe country for journalism. But, the situation has taken a turn as press freedom and security in that country has worsened. Some exiled journalists have decided to seek refuge in other countries and to leave the profession.
At least 25 journalists from Guatemala have gone into exile due to an increase in censorship, attacks and persecution in their home country. Among them are Marvin Del Cid, Lucia Ixchíu and Gerson Ortiz, who spoke with LJR about the legal cases against them and the emotional consequences of being uprooted.
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 […]
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
On the occasion of Journalist's Day in Guatemala on Nov. 30, a collective of journalists under NoNosCallarán [We won’t be silenced] spoke out against the attacks they have been exposed to for practicing their profession and held a sit-in against the criminalization of journalists in front of the public prosecutor's office.
In view of the six-year prison sentence against journalist José Rubén Zamora for the alleged crime of money laundering, international and national organizations voiced their concern for the general situation of journalists in Guatemala, the weakening of its democracy, and for Zamora himself, who has at least two other open court cases against him.
After the arrest of José Rúben Zamora and the closure of elPeriódico — the newspaper he founded and ran —, several news outlets are defying government pressure and working together on investigations and fact-checking in Guatemala. Four journalists tell us how they continue to defend independent journalism in the country.
After almost 27 years of life, Guatemalan newspaper elPeriódico announced its closure amid complaints of persecution by the government. Its president and founder has served almost 10 months in prison after being arrested on heavily criticized charges.
The state of journalism around the world is put at stake from government attacks, censorship and war. Seven journalists from seven nations describe the development of modern journalism in their country and provide hope for the future of media worldwide.