Press Freedom in the Americas Sees Dramatic Deterioration in 2025
Press freedom across the Americas experienced a sharp and alarming decline in 2025, according to a regional watchdog report released on Tuesday. The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) highlighted a significant increase in homicides, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation targeting media workers, describing it as one of the worst years for the profession in the region.
Widespread Attacks and Restrictions
The Miami-based IAPA, which has over 1,300 member news organizations, published its annual Chapultepec index, assessing conditions in 23 countries across the Western Hemisphere. The report ranked Venezuela and Nicaragua as nations "without freedom of speech," while Ecuador, Bolivia, Honduras, Peru, Mexico, Haiti, Cuba, and El Salvador were categorized under "high restriction." In contrast, democracies like Canada, Brazil, Chile, and Panama were noted for having "low restrictions" on freedom of speech.
The United States was classified as a country with "restrictions" on freedom of speech, with 170 attacks against journalists recorded in 2025. Concerns were raised over incidents during coverage of Immigration and Customs Enforcement procedures, and the report criticized poor government action against disinformation and efforts to limit free expression. It also noted that former President Donald Trump and other officials had stigmatized critical media outlets.
Regional Challenges and Specific Cases
The IAPA attributed the rise in attacks to the emergence of "authoritarian presidents" in various countries. In Venezuela, self-censorship has become prevalent, with local media avoiding coverage of events like the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to opposition leader María Corina Machado due to fear of government reprisals. Nicaragua's censorship is described as "institutionalized," following constitutional reforms that centralized power under the presidency.
El Salvador, classified under "high restrictions," saw government officials using lawsuits and criminal investigations to intimidate journalists, with 180 attacks recorded between May and July. Ecuador reported 290 acts of aggression against journalists, including four murders allegedly by criminal gangs, and one journalist was shot by police during a protest broadcast.
Haiti, included for the first time in the report, was ranked among the countries with the least press freedom in the Americas. Two journalists were killed in 2024 by gang members at a hospital reopening ceremony in Port-au-Prince, and crimes against journalists often go unpunished amid gang control and intimidation campaigns.
Ongoing Monitoring and Advocacy
The IAPA continues to promote press freedoms throughout the Americas, emphasizing the need for greater protection and accountability. The report underscores the urgent challenges facing journalists in the region, calling for action to address impunity and safeguard media workers' rights.
