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October 20, 2025 – General –
At its 81st General Assembly, convened in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) flagged a deeply troubling trend: journalism across Latin America and the Caribbean is under intensifying threat. After four days of panels and presentations, the assembly’s final communique warned of an increasingly hostile environment for the media, rooted in official discourse that stigmatizes journalists, alongside shrinking legal protections and rising impunity.
Delegates representing media outlets from more than two dozen countries detailed multiple forms of pressure on the press: verbal attacks from political leaders (such as Argentina’s president, who has repeatedly made anti-journalist remarks), economic sanctions against outlets, criminal prosecutions of reporters, and forced exile of media professionals. In some cases, judicial harassment has become a key tool: lawsuits and legal actions targeting journalists are being used to intimidate, delay reporting, and drain resources from independent newsrooms.
The assembly report emphasized that the deteriorating conditions for journalists are not isolated incidents, but rather part of a broader pattern of state or state-adjacent actors undermining independent media. This includes surveillance, equipment seizures, movement restrictions, and threats of violence – especially in the most fragile democratic contexts.
Despite the somber picture, the IAPA also highlighted some positive legal developments: in Costa Rica, the Constitutional Court reaffirmed broad access to public information and free criticism; in Colombia, a Supreme Court ruling recognized crimes against journalists as attacks on democracy. These rulings were cited as evidence that protective mechanisms can be strengthened when civil society, media organizations, and courts act together.
In closing, the assembly urged member governments to refrain from hostile rhetoric, implement robust safeguards for press safety, protect journalists and media outlets from arbitrary sanctions, and ensure swift, transparent investigations of attacks on the press. The IAPA called on journalists themselves to remain united, resilient, and proactive in defending press freedom across the hemisphere.
Overall, the IAPA’s message was clear: journalism in the Americas is at a critical juncture — under siege from official hostility and structural vulnerabilities — and the consequences of silence or inaction risk further erosion of democracy and open societies.
Reference –
IAPA Assembly warns of growing hostility and attacks against journalism
