Americas

  

Guatemalan journalist Quimy de León subject to smear campaign involving CPJ

Mexico City, April 16, 2025—A Facebook account named “Melvin Veum” launched a paid advertising smear campaign on Monday, April 14, that used CPJ’s logo to legitimize false narratives against Guatemalan journalist Quimy de León, director of independent news website Prensa Comunitaria and recipient of CPJ’s 2024 International Press Freedom Award.  The post featured two images…

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An image of the Facebook news site Despertar Occidental. Guatemalan community journalist Ismael Alonzo González, who worked for the publication for three years, was shot by unidentified assailants on March 21, 2025. (Screenshot: CPJ/Facebook)

Community journalist in Guatemala shot to death by unidentified assailants

Mexico City, April 15, 2025—Guatemalan authorities must investigate the killing of community journalist Ismael Alonzo González, determine whether he was targeted for his work, and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Friday, March 21, Alonzo was outside his home in the western city of Quetzaltenango when two unidentified…

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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro delivers a speech during a rally to celebrate the results of last month's presidential election, in Caracas, Venezuela August 28, 2024. REUTERS/Fausto Torrealba

Venezuelan authorities arrest 2 journalists in connection with crime report

Bogotá, April 11, 2025—Venezuelan authorities should immediately release journalist Nakary Mena Ramos and her camera operator husband, Gianni González, drop all charges against them, and ensure they can do their jobs without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. “The Venezuelan government’s crackdown on the press has persisted for months, intensifying following…

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Ecuador's presidential candidate Luisa Gonzalez (left) and President Daniel Noboa

CPJ, partners call on Ecuador’s presidential candidates to commit to press freedom

April 10, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists and other five press freedom organizations urged Ecuador’s presidential candidates Daniel Noboa and Luisa González to publicly commit to freedom of expression ahead of the April 13 run-off election. The statement calls on the two politicians to ensure free expression is protected as guaranteed in the constitution and…

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Nelton Rivera

Guatemalan journalist Nelton Rivera targeted by smear, threat campaign

Mexico City, April 8, 2025—Guatemalan authorities must investigate and stop the coordinated online smear campaign against journalist Nelton Rivera and ensure that he and his colleagues at Prensa Comunitaria and Ruda can report freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Since February, social media accounts known in Guatemala as “net centers” have…

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A woman walks past a burning barricade set during a protest in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on April 2, 2025. Violence against journalists is increasing as Haiti descends further into chaos. (Photo: Reuters/Ralph Tedy Erol)

Journalists kidnapped, threatened with lynching as chaos worsens in Haiti

Miami, April 8, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about deteriorating media safety amid surging violence in Haiti, in which at least one journalist was kidnapped and two were almost lynched. Roger Claudy Israël, owner of local radio station RC FM, and his brother were kidnapped in the central city of Mirebalais by Viv…

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Two Tapachula journalists who spoke to CPJ by phone on condition of anonymity, fearing reprisal, believe Noticias Chiapas al ROJO was created by a criminal gang to spread disinformation against rivals, authorities and journalists. (Screenshot: Facebook)

17 Mexican journalists smeared by Facebook page allegedly run by gang members

Mexico City, April 3, 2025—Mexican authorities should immediately take steps to protect 17 reporters named by a Facebook page allegedly run by a criminal gang in the state of Chiapas and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Friday, March 28, the Facebook page “Noticias Chiapas al ROJO” published the…

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Riot police stand guard during the commemoration of International Human Rights Day in Managua, Nicaragua December 10, 2019.REUTERS/Oswaldo Rivas

CPJ, others urge the Nicaraguan government to resume cooperation with the UN Human Rights Council

April 1, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists joined six other press freedom groups in a joint statement condemning the Nicaraguan government’s failure to cooperate with the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process—a critical mechanism for assessing the human rights records of member states that has resulted in 279 recommendations for Nicaragua. Nicaragua’s final UPR report was…

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Voice of America

CPJ, partners urge Congress to protect USAGM-affiliated journalists from deportation

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined PEN America and other partner organizations in a joint letter Tuesday urging Congress to take immediate action to protect journalists affiliated with the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) outlets — such as Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty — from the risk of…

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National Public Radio CEO Katherine Maher (left) and Public Broadcasting Service CEO Paula Kerger testify during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on March 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo: AFP/Drew Angerer)

CPJ: House hearing on PBS and NPR a ‘dangerous mischaracterization’ of US public media

Washington, D.C., March 26, 2025 —The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the willful mischaracterization of the vital work and role of public broadcasters NPR and PBS during today’s Congressional hearing, titled “Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the Heads of NPR and PBS accountable.” “Millions of Americans from major cities to rural areas rely on NPR and PBS…

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