
Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Ordeal for independent media
Censorship, intimidation and threats... President Daniel Ortega’s reelection in November 2016 for a third consecutive term was accompanied by many attacks on the media, especially opposition media outlets. Journalism as a whole is stigmatized and journalists are often the targets of harassment campaigns, arbitrary arrest and death threats. At demonstrations, reporters are treated as participants and are often physically attacked. The persecution of independent media outlets has become much more intense since a worsening in the political crisis in April 2018. Many journalists have had to flee abroad while others, such as Lucía Pineda Ubau and Miguel Mora of 100% Noticias, have been jailed on terrorism charges. Although the environment is now extremely violent, non-aligned media outlets cannot afford the bulletproof vests and other protective equipment that their reporters need when covering demonstrations. Finally, printed newspapers have almost disappeared as a result of government-orchestrated shortages of newsprint, rubber and other essential supplies.
Ranking
-3
114 in 2019
Global score
+0.28
35.53 in 2019