President Daniel Ortega’s reelection in November 2016 for a third consecutive term was accompanied by many attacks on independent and 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 the political crisis intensified in April 2018. Many journalists have had to flee abroad while others 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.