Colombia: democracy without press freedom

In Colombia, one of the longest-standing democracies in Latin America, there is no wiggle room for a journalist to reveal the truth.

Colombia faces significant press freedom challenges on an ongoing basis. According to Reporters Without Borders, press freedom in this South American country currently ranks 119th out of 180. Issues such as drug trafficking, land confiscation, displacement and political-economic corruption can put journalists at great risk.

Paradoxically, with some 200 years, Colombia is one of the longest-standing democracies in Latin America. From 2022, leftist president Gustavo Petro will determine its course. Although it is the third most biodiverse country in the world, its political landscape remains fragile, with a strong opposition waging smear campaigns through social media. Colombia is a ‘highly polarised’ country, according to a report by consultancy, with only 35 per cent of the population trusting the media.

Solidarity

Two of the three largest commercial companies own the main media outlets, reaching 85 per cent of the entire country. A group from the banking sector owns a large share of newspapers. There is also a government channel, culturally oriented with its own content for TV, radio and platforms.

In 2019, Daniel Coronell, a leading journalist at Colombia's well-known Semana Magazine, was fired after publishing about human rights violations by the government and the military. This caused much solidarity among independent professionals, providing online platforms.

Today, renowned journalists such as Coronell, María Jimena Duzán and Margarita Rosa de Francisco publish online, some from exile. This is despite the fact that in 1991 the new constitution sanctioned press censorship. The Foundation for Press Freedom, meanwhile, is working to preserve press freedom by monitoring and supporting the Colombian media.

Threats

One of the challenges for a journalist is financing his or her work - including high costs for self-protection and protection of equipment. Intimidation, threats and murder are also common. Some censor themselves, others live in danger. Almost all professionals pay for security measures, such as bodyguards. Many journalists, including myself, left the country.

I too faced intimidation and threats. For instance, in 2021, I was investigating the murder of a newlywed young couple, Natalia and Rodrigo, who were working with the local community to protect the ecosystem from groups involved in drug money laundering. I held interviews with two witnesses who had information about the couple's death. I then received death threats against me and my sons. In early 2023, I learned that the two witnesses had died by ‘an accident’.

Thousands of deaths in Colombia are attributed to accidents or isolated crimes. Many journalists left the country. I myself did the same, in late 2021. A year later, I applied for asylum in the Netherlands, which was granted in nine months. Here, I feel safer than ever before.

This article previously appeared in 360 Magazine. It was produced in collaboration with Free Press Unlimited.