PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
May 3, 2026
Contact: press@alianzaamericas.org / (773) 638-4278
On World Press Freedom Day, Alianza Americas issues an urgent call to act to end censorship, violence, and the killing of journalists that threaten democracy in the Americas. A free and independent press is an essential condition for democracy.
Independent journalism plays a vital role: informing the public, exposing abuses of power, and strengthening accountability. When those who investigate and report are silenced, it not only violates freedom of the press—an individual right—but also the collective right of societies to be informed.
Across the Americas, journalism faces growing threats and restrictions. Censorship, criminalization, digital threats, and physical violence against journalists limit access to accurate and timely information. In the most extreme cases, the killing of journalists silences their voices, spreads fear among the population, and erodes democracy.
Violence against journalists is not limited to isolated incidents. It is part of broader processes of democratic backsliding that undermine civic participation, weaken institutions, and shrink spaces for public debate. A society without reliable information has fewer tools to defend its rights. For this reason, protecting press freedom is not only the responsibility of states, but also
At Alianza Americas, we reaffirm our commitment to defending freedom of expression, strengthening independent journalism, and protecting those who carry out this work in challenging contexts. Defending journalists means defending everyone’s right to inform, to be informed, to participate, and to decide.
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Alianza Americas is a transnational network of migrant-led organizations in the United States. We advocate for social justice, equity, and human rights in the Americas.
