Bolivia / Americas

  
Demonstrators take part in a march, which organizers have dubbed a "defense of democracy," to rally against road blockades and what they call pressure measures used by protesters calling for the resignation of Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz, amid the country’s economic and fuel crisis, in La Paz, Bolivia, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Claudia Morales REFILE - REWRITING FOR CLARITY AND ADDING ATTRIBUTION

Bolivian journalists injured, harassed by anti-government protesters

Bogotá, May 21, 2026–Bolivian authorities must thoroughly investigate violent attacks on journalists covering a wave of anti-government demonstrations, including against cameraman Hugo Machicado of private broadcaster Gigavision, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Monday, Machicado was injured in the legs by shrapnel from dynamite detonated by protesters in the capital La Paz…

Read More ›

2 journalists, 2 attacks, a fight for justice as Bolivia enters new era

A barrage of bullets was waiting for ATB camera operator Percy Suárez and six other journalists when they arrived at the Las Londras ranch in Bolivia’s Guarayos province October 28, 2021, around 852 kilometers outside of the capital, La Paz. The journalists, flown in by a local farmer association, came to cover a land dispute…

Read More ›

Supporters of Bolivia's former President Evo Morales protest outside the Voter Registration Office after the constitutional court upheld a ban preventing Morales from running again in Bolivia's upcoming presidential election, in Cochabamba, Bolivia, May 22, 2025. REUTERS/Patricia Pinto

Journalists fear volatile Bolivia elections may escalate press attacks

For over two decades, Bolivian journalists have endured intimidation, legal harassment, and violence from political actors intent on silencing dissent. Now, journalists fear those attacks may intensify as the country races toward a hotly contested presidential election, in which no clear frontrunner has emerged. “We’re not choosing between democracy and authoritarianism” said reporter Rodrigo Fernández from Radio Erbol, one of…

Read More ›

Jurgen Guzmán

Bolivian protesters threaten to hang journalist Jurgen Guzmán

Bogotá, November 7, 2024—Bolivian authorities must thoroughly investigate violent attacks on journalists covering a wave of anti-government protests, including against reporter Jurgen Guzmán of private broadcaster Unitel TV, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On October 26, protesters blocking a highway nearthe central Bolivian town of Melga threatened…

Read More ›

Bolivian journalists abducted, assaulted by armed men while covering land dispute

Bogotá, November 4, 2021 – Bolivian authorities must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the abduction and assault of six journalists by a group of armed men and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On October 28, seven reporters, photographers, and camera operators for several Bolivian media outlets…

Read More ›

In five Latin American countries, COVID-19 responses restrict press freedom, CPJ, TrustLaw find

In Bolivia, Brazil, El Salvador, and Peru, emergency measures in response to COVID-19 restricted the media’s capacity to report freely and the public’s ability to access information, including critical information about public health interventions and the pandemic itself, a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists and Thomson Reuters Foundation’s TrustLaw program found. The report,…

Read More ›

Bolivian radio journalist Franklin Guzmán Zambrana assaulted, robbed while covering protest

Bogotá, April 5, 2021 – Bolivian authorities must thoroughly investigate the attack on journalist Franklin Guzmán Zambrana and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 30, near the village of Santa Bárbara, about five miles northeast of the capital, La Paz, a group of truck drivers abducted, assaulted,…

Read More ›

Physical Safety: Covering wildfires

Wildfires are becoming more frequent across the world and increasing in both severity and extent, according to Science Brief, a website that reviews peer-reviewed scientific studies on various topics, including climate change. Media workers covering any wildfire should be aware of the dynamic nature of such a disaster, and how a rapidly evolving situation on…

Read More ›

Bolivian photojournalist David Sapiencia attacked by protesters

Bogotá, August 11, 2020 – Bolivian authorities should quickly and thoroughly investigate the attack on journalist David Sapiencia, identify those responsible, and hold them to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On August 5, about two dozen protesters in the central Bolivian town of Mairana attacked Sapiencia, a freelance photojournalist, according to news…

Read More ›

Protesters assault Bolivian journalists from Unitel TV and El Deber

Bogotá, June 16, 2020 – Bolivian authorities’ investigation into attacks on journalists from Unitel TV and El Deber should be thorough and transparent, and those responsible should be held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 11, a crowd of about 50 protesters in the central Bolivian town of Entre Ríos…

Read More ›