CPJ is honored to present its 2024 International Press Freedom Award to Guatemalan journalist Quimy de León.
Quimy de León is a Guatemalan journalist, medical professional, and historian with over 20 years of professional experience. She is one of Guatemala’s leading journalists and has collaborated with international outlets such as Forbidden Stories.
In 2012, de León founded Prensa Comunitaria alongside a team of journalists and researchers as an alternative news agency specializing in environmental and human rights issues. Prensa Comunitaria covers the intersection of indigenous communities, land, and gender. In 2017, de León founded Ruda, a feminist digital magazine devoted to sexual and reproductive rights.
As the director of Prensa Comunitaria, de León has experienced relentless threats from corporate and governmental forces determined to silence the outlet. Journalists from Prensa Comunitaria have also faced criminalization for their reporting on land issues and the consequences of extractive operations in Indigenous territories.
During President Alejandro Giammattei’s time in office, de León became a primary target for social media harassment, often accompanied by ominous warnings of potential criminal charges. This disturbing trend involved harassment from anonymous accounts associated with the Guatemalan prosecutor’s office, intended to intimidate her with threats of legal action.
Prensa Comunitaria is a rare platform tasked with shedding light on the impact of climate change and empowering community writers to publish their perspectives. De León’s achievements underscore the essential role of community journalism in Guatemala. Through her efforts, and those of Prensa Comunitaria, marginalized indigenous and rural voices have gained visibility in a news landscape where their experiences are often overlooked.
De León’s efforts covering critical issues facing marginalized communities in Guatemala highlights her dedication to public-interest journalism and achievements fostering media inclusivity throughout the country.