The state of journalism in Central America has remained dangerous in recent years.
Journalists have been harassed, threatened, arrested, or forced to leave their countries to protect their safety.
In Guatemala, political turmoil and the recent decay of democracy began in 2015 after the disbandment of an international anti-corruption commission.
Prominent Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora became a target of current president Alejandro Giammattei after he published articles critical of Giammattei’s presidency.
Zamora was recently sentenced to six years in prisonon charges of money laundering. Zamora said the sentence was an example of the government silencing its critics.
With a presidential election held last month, there are hopes a potential win for runoff candidate Bernando Arévalo may swing the country back to a place of democracy and free speech.
María Martin is a veteran reporter who has covered Central America for two decades.
She said although Central America lives in the United States’ backyard, news coverage is often limited.
“It’s only when there is, say, the unaccompanied migrant crisis or when a volcano blows up or when there’s an election [that] there [are] constant news stories coming out of here.”
Martin — founder of the GraciasVida Center for Media and host of the podcast SOS Central America — said the ongoing violence in the country extends far beyond journalists and has pushed desperate people to migrate.
“If you can’t make a living there … and if the violence is increasing, and you see people who are trying to make a difference — indigenous environmental activists, journalists, independent prosecutors — being put in jail, it’s time to move.”
Listen to the first part of the conversation with Martin here.
