Ecuador is experiencing a deepening crisis that now strikes at the heart of its civic life. The twin pressures of organized crime-linked violence tied to narcotrafficking and institutional actions that curb press access and coverage are eroding press freedom across the country. Journalists and media outlets are confronting threats ranging from physical violence and death threats to legal harassment and censorship. This analysis examines how these forces are converging to restrict independent reporting, stifle accountability, and weaken democratic norms in Ecuador. Narcotrafficking violence as a catalyst for press suppression Since 2022, Ecuador has witnessed a dramatic surge in criminal violence driven by narcotrafficking networks competing for control of transit routes and illicit economies. This has contributed to one of the highest homicide rates seen in the country’s recent history. Such instability has had spillover effects on journalists covering corruption, security, and local governance. Threats from armed non-state actors and criminal

Costa Rica has long been recognized as a Central American outlier, a stable democracy with strong civil liberties, independent institutions, and a free press. Yet, as the 2026 national elections unfold, these longstanding assumptions are increasingly under strain. Political polarization, tensions between government and media, and a shifting media environment are reshaping the space for independent journalism, with serious implications for democratic accountability. Recent electoral developments, including the election of populist candidate Laura Fernández, signal a potential turning point with consequences for press freedom and broader civic space. The state of press freedom before the election Under President Rodrigo Chaves, who took office in 2022, Costa Rica’s position in the global Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index declined sharply, from 8th in the world in 2022 to 36th in 2025. Reflecting a sustained downward trend over several years. International press freedom organizations and observers have documented increasing hostility between the

Since taking office in December 2023, Argentine President Javier Milei has overseen a sharp deterioration in relations between the government and the press. What began as hostile rhetoric toward critical media has evolved into a broader climate of stigmatization, legal harassment, and repression, raising serious concerns among journalists, press freedom organizations, and international human rights bodies. A surge in attacks and stigmatizing rhetoric According to FOPEA (Foro de Periodismo Argentino), 2025 marked the most damaging year for press freedom in Argentina since the organization began monitoring attacks against journalists. Between January and December 2025, FOPEA recorded 278 attacks, representing a 55% increase compared to 2024 and a 139% rise compared to 2023. FOPEA further reported that President Milei was linked to 43% of these attacks, primarily through stigmatizing discourse, insults, and public defamation A FOPEA study analyzing 113,649 posts from Milei’s X account between December 2023 and September 2025 found