Independent journalism in Nicaragua continues experiencing its worst moment
By Ulises in Onda Local, April 10, 2024
Between January and March 2024 at least nine journalists saw themselves forced to go into exile, in seven provinces of the country there is no practice of independent journalism, in others, local media have closed their news programs or avoid critically addressing social and political topics, on the other hand, verbal aggressions continue against independent journalist on the part of governmental spokespeople.
These are part of the findings of the quarterly report (January-March 2024) on cases of violations of the Freedom of the Press in Nicaragua, released this week by the Fundación por la Libertad de Expresión y Democracia (FLED).
According to the report the provinces in the country where independent journalism is no longer practiced are: Carazo, Chontales, Jinotega, Madriz, Nueva Segovia and the two autonomous regions of the Caribbean Coast.
The FLED report is based on monitoring communications media, denouncements, conversations, and interviews with journalists inside Nicaragua as well as in exile.
The document warns that up to March 2024 around 251 journalists, communicators, directors and other workers of communications media have forcibly had to leave the country. It also says that it has been found that an undetermined number of journalists have abandoned the profession and currently are devoted to other economic work to maintain their families.
Principal problems which journalism faces
A product of state repression and persecution and the criminalization of the exercise of independent journalism, in Nicaragua as well as in exile, the exercise of this profession faces a series of obstacles which continue corralling women and men of the press.
The FLED report analyzes the principal difficulties which Nicaraguan journalism faces:
The report on cases of violations of the Freedom of the Press in Nicaragua, presented by the Foundation for the Freedom of Expression and Democracy (FLED), analyzes the principal factors which are affecting the exercise of journalism in Nicaragua: the lack of generational replacement, the risks of exercising the profession as such, wage insecurity, exile, the application of repressive laws and closures of news programs.
Generational replacement threatened
According to FLED the two principal reasons why generational replacement in journalism is threatened are the fear that exists about the exercise of the profession and the lack of certified and quality schools of journalism.
“With the arbitrary closure and later confiscation of the Central American University (UCA) on the part of the Sandinista Government, one of the most prestigious spaces in terms of the formation of journalists and communicators in Nicaragua was shuttered. Another significant number of universities which offered the major of journalism or social communication also have been victims of governmental closures,” warns the report.
On the other hand, the context of repression against journalists has led family members of young people of university age to recommend that they opt for majors which do not compromise their integrity, or leave the country in search of a better future.
“These obstacles not only put at risk the continuity and vitality of journalism in Nicaragua, but also limit the diversity of voices and perspectives in the communications media,” laments the report.
Labor instability stifles journalists
“Wage instability makes their situation even worse,” the report warns. The lack of labor stability and the insufficiency of economic income have led many journalists to abandon the profession and devote themselves to other economic activities or initiatives which might offer them greater financial security.
FLED says that, without a doubt, the struggle to remain in the journalistic profession both inside and outside the country “has become an act of bravery and commitment to the audiences who in different ways show their ongoing closeness and support for independent journalism.”
Likewise, they state that the communications media as journalistic enterprises also have experienced adverse situations, such as closures, confiscations, fiscal harassment on the part of institutions like the General Tax Office (DGI), municipal governments, the Nicaraguan Institute for Social Security (INSS), among others.
“Many communications media have completely transformed their programming, predominating musical spaces, entertainment programs or programs with evangelical religious content,” they state, while at the same time they think that these measures are adopted by these media to avoid being closed or confiscated and to protect their collaborators.
Application of repressive laws makes the situation worse
Independent journalism in Nicaragua is also threatened by the repressive laws which the Ortega Murillo dictatorship is applying.
Among the most feared laws, the report names Law 1040, the Law for the Regulation of Foreign Agents, Law 1055, the Law for the Defense of the Rights of People to Independence, Sovereignty and Self Determination for Peace and Law 1058, Law of Reform and Addition to the Penal Code.
“All these laws have been applied discretionally on different social and political actors, opposition voices, dissidents, and journalists. Many journalists have quit practicing the profession out of the fear of the application of these laws”, reads the report.
Likewise, it refers to the fact that fear has led many journalists to self-censure themselves and avoid publishing their journalistic work on social networks, to avoid possible arrest or harassment. “A clear example of the application of these norms is the arbitrary jailing of the journalist Victor Ticay, who remains in jail since April 6, 2023 by reason of his profession,” warns the report.