Honduras is experiencing a prolonged and profound crisis in press freedom, set within a complex social context for Latin America. The murder of journalist Javier Antonio Hércules Salinas, which took place on June 1, 2025, not only shocked the country’s journalistic community but also exposed the deadly risks faced by media workers in an environment marked by impunity, corruption, and structural violence. A foretold death Javier Antonio Hércules Salinas, host of the Facebook news program A Todo Noticias, combined journalism with his job as a taxi driver. As a Salvadoran national, he had been living in Honduras for over ten years, reporting on issues of public interest. This crime did not come out of nowhere. In September 2023, the dangers he faced were already apparent: he was kidnapped and threatened, forcing him to temporarily leave Santa Rosa de Copán. Later, he was incorporated into the National Protection Mechanism for Journalists,

Over the past decade, and with growing urgency since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, press freedom in Russia has collapsed into one of the most repressive environments for journalists outside of active warzones. The Kremlin’s tightening grip on the media extends far beyond traditional censorship. It now encompasses aggressive legal crackdowns, the criminalization of independent reporting, forced media closures, and the systematic persecution of journalists, both foreign and domestic. High-Profile Persecution The case of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal correspondent detained in March 2023 while reporting on a military facility, underscores the Kremlin’s willingness to conflate journalism with espionage. Accused under vague national security charges, Gershkovich was imprisoned until August 1, 2024, when he was released as part of a rare prisoner exchange brokered by then President Biden. His case was a rare exception; his arrest sent a chilling signal to both foreign and domestic reporters. More

Following the release of Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) Press Freedom Index, the outlook for Peru is deeply concerning. The country has dropped 53 positions over the last three years, currently ranking 130 out of 180 nations. This sharp decline reflects an increasingly hostile environment for journalists and media outlets, marked by harassment, violence, and repressive legislative initiatives. Below, we examine the key factors driving this deterioration. A fragmented and pressured media ecosystem Outlets such as Trome, the country’s most-read newspaper, and Radioprogramas del Perú, the leading news radio station, still maintain broad reach. However, widespread public distrust has led audiences, particularly younger ones, to turn to alternative sources like TikTok for news. This digital migration has caused a sharp decline in viewership for traditional TV channels. Political and institutional crisis: The start of the downfall On December 7, 2022, then President Pedro Castillo attempted to dissolve Congress and establish an