The passage of recent legislation in Mexico that allows crimes against journalists to be investigated at the federal, instead of local, level is just a first step toward improving the dire situation currently facing the Mexican press.
The Panamanian press accused President Ricardo Martinelli of leading a defamation campaign against journalists critical of his administration, reported the Spanish news agency EFE.
A team of reporters from the Venezuelan TV channel Televen were attacked on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 10, as shots were fired from the roof of the National Prison of Maracaibo, better known as the Sabaneta prison, in the state of Zulia.
In one day, on Tuesday, July 10, three Mexican news outlets were attacked with explosives, reported the freedom of expression organization Article 19.
In a statement published Friday, July 6, the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) lamented the killing of Brazilian sports commentator Valério Luiz, reported the news portal Terra.
A Colombian radio journalist was hit in the face while trying to report about citizen complaints in the tax office of the Gobernación de Bolívar in Cartagena, Colombia, reported the newspaper El Universal.
Mexican journalist Sanjuana Martínez reported authority abuse after she was arrested at her home on Thursday, July 5, in the city of Monterrey, according to her blog post.
A Salvadoran journalist who fled his country after receiving threats is facing deportation since his U.S. asylum application was denied, reported the Associated Press on Thursday, July 5.
In Veracruz, the Mexican state where nine journalists have been brutally killed in 18 months, state legislators approved the creation of the State Commission for the Care and Protection of Journalists, according to the newspaper El Universal.
Numerous journalists in Peru have been attacked in recent days. On Wednesday, July 4, police attacked at least five journalists who were covering the state of emergency declared in the region of Cajamarca.