New York, June 4, 2025–The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is pleased to announce the appointment of José Zamora as the new Regional Director for the Americas, the region which now includes CPJ’s work covering the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.
“Zamora brings a unique portfolio of well-rounded experiences to CPJ, including press freedom advocacy, campaigning, communications, and philanthropy,” said CPJ Chief Programs Officer Carlos Martinez de la Serna. “I am delighted to see Zamora in this new role where he will lead our work in a vast region at a time when the free press here is under sustained pressure.”
“At a time when press freedom is under attack around the world, I’m honored and deeply grateful for the opportunity to join the Committee to Protect Journalists,” Zamora said. “I’ve seen firsthand how vital independent journalism is to holding power to account and defending democracy. I’m committed to advancing CPJ’s mission to ensure that reporters everywhere can do their work freely and safely.”
Zamora previously held senior communications roles at Exile Content Studio and Univision News, and led the Knight News Challenge at Knight Foundation, where he helped support more than 100 grants focused on media innovation and freedom of expression. At the beginning of his career, Zamora worked to promote civic engagement and digital innovation at elPeriódico, a daily newspaper in Guatemala founded by his father, José Rubén Zamora Marroquin. In 2024, he founded Ilumina Communications, a bilingual consultancy to help purpose-driven organizations amplify their impact through strategic storytelling. He also helped launch and advise the Central American Independent Media Archive, created to preserve and protect independent journalism in a region where reporters face escalating threats under authoritarian regimes.
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About the Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide. We defend the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.