During the period, press freedom conditions were influenced by a tense public debate climate, with incidents that hindered the practice of journalism.
IAPA Midyear Meeting. April 23 - 24, 2026.
During the period, press freedom conditions were influenced by a tense public debate climate, with incidents that hindered the practice of journalism.
There were cases of harassment and restrictions during news coverage. In September, a team from the newspaper La Nación was pursued, detained, and intimidated by police forces in the province of Formosa, following a complaint that was later deemed false. In the same month, cameraman Gerardo Galarza, from the channel Somos Uno, was assaulted by National Deputy Aldo Leiva in the province of Chaco while doing his work.
In November, a criminal court in Tucumán ordered the cessation of the dissemination of content critical of the provincial Public Prosecutor’s Office, a measure interpreted as prior censorship.
In December, leaders in the sports sector pressured journalists, while authorities in Tanti, Córdoba, faced criticism over an ordinance restricting access to public information.
In February, new harassment incidents were recorded. Journalist Alejandro Alfie, from Clarín, received threats in a context of prior harassment linked to his professional work. At the same time, cameraman Facundo Tedeschini, from channel A24, was detained and assaulted by security forces while covering a protest in front of the National Congress.
There were also stigmatizing statements from official authorities. Minister of Economy Luis Caputo publicly disqualified journalist Juan Manuel Barca, from Clarín, accusing him of “working by lying every day,” reflecting a confrontational climate that impacts journalistic work.
The summoning of journalist Natalia Volosin in connection with an investigation into the $Libra case caused concern over its potential intimidating effect and respect for the right to protect sources, although the subsequent withdrawal of the measure eased those concerns.
In the last week of March, during his first public conference following controversy over trips and details of his assets that could contain inconsistencies, Chief of Staff Manuel Adorni referred to a “political and media operation” against him.
One of the most concerning developments was the creation in February of the Official Response Office, a government body established to refute alleged fake news, “press operations,” and actions by opposition groups. The confrontational tone of this office and its characterization of journalistic content as “deliberate political operations” were interpreted as a form of stigmatization against critical journalists and media outlets.
In the last six months, after a period of decreased offensive actions against the press, President Javier Milei has resumed his habit of attacking journalists and media with allegations of corruption, spreading falsehoods, or personal disqualifications. In one of his latest posts on X, he referred to journalist Liliana Franco as a “dirty pen.”
In this context, the repeated disqualifications highlight a deterioration of public debate and, within it, of the relationship between political power and the press. The quality of democratic discussion faces a situation in which journalists and media suffer stigmatization and attacks that can lead to self-censorship and other impacts on journalistic work.
