The political, social, and economic conflict facing the country also had a direct impact on the exercise of journalism. During the protests, journalists and news crews were attacked both by demonstrators and during police operations while covering road blockades and clashes. The attacks included beatings, the throwing of rocks, slingshots, dynamite, and pyrotechnics, as well as assaults involving tear gas and police projectiles. In this context, journalistic coverage took place under particularly dangerous conditions, affecting both the safety of media professionals and the public’s access to information about a crisis with significant social and economic consequences.
The Ombudsman’s Office reported violations affecting freedom of expression and documented journalists among those injured during efforts to clear road blockades. In some cases, the violence reached serious levels: journalists were struck by dynamite shrapnel and affected by tear gas while carrying out their work.
This situation is unfolding amid growing political uncertainty for the government of President Rodrigo Paz, marked by corruption allegations involving people in his closest circle and by the distancing of leaders with parliamentary representation who had previously provided him with a degree of support for governance.
This was compounded by an adverse economic environment characterized by a shortage of foreign currency, a rise in its exchange rate, and increasing prices for widely consumed goods. The international crisis affecting oil prices and low domestic fuel production also forced an increase in the price of imported diesel, worsening supply and transportation difficulties.
Social unrest reached one of its most critical points between May and June, when supporters of former President Evo Morales (2006–2019) and the Bolivian Workers’ Center (COB) blocked the main roads connecting the western region with the rest of the country for 53 days. The protests, which later included demands for President Paz’s resignation, particularly affected the cities of La Paz and El Alto.
The blockades disrupted the transportation of food, fuel, and other essential goods and caused severe supply shortages. More than one million people were affected by a food and humanitarian emergency, while neighboring countries aided through military air transport to ensure the supply of basic goods.
In addition to attacks against journalists, structural pressures are affecting the sustainability and independence of the media. Traditional media outlets, particularly national newspapers, face growing competition from individuals and digital platforms that disseminate content on social media without necessarily adhering to the same standards of journalistic ethics and responsibility. The proliferation of information without identifiable sources and the distortion of content contribute to undermining public trust in professional journalism.
The situation is compounded by the displacement of traditional media outlets in terms of government advertising and violations of the copyright of content produced by journalists and news organizations. The National Press Association (ANP) has expressed particular concern about the unauthorized reproduction of news content on websites and social media, including by actors that should contribute to protecting these rights.
Economic difficulties have also begun to jeopardize the continuity of long-established media outlets. After 41 years of operation, Opinión, a newspaper based in Cochabamba, suspended the printing of its paper editions because of its financial fragility, associated with low advertising revenue, although it continues its news operations through its website.
This situation led to multiple attacks against journalists throughout the six-month period. On April 22, women journalists were assaulted by riot police while covering a teachers’ protest outside the Legislative Palace in Plaza Murillo, La Paz. According to the ANP Monitoring Unit, the assaults caused eye irritation, respiratory problems, and headaches, as well as damage to journalistic equipment.
Beginning May 1, social organizations called by the COB launched protests, road blockades, and demonstrations that continued for 53 days. During this period, several journalists were attacked while covering the conflict.
On May 13, a journalist, a television network cameraman, and an international press correspondent were attacked with slingshots and rocks by groups of rural protesters blocking a highway in El Alto.
The following day, journalist Hanz Peñaloza of Gigavisión was struck in the face by a tear-gas projectile fired by riot police. The impact caused injuries, and he was placed on medical leave for several days.
On May 14, ANP President Jorge Carrasco demanded that cooperative miners apologize to a reporter from the Agencia de Noticias Fides (ANF), who had been beaten during protest activities.
On May 16, the director of Red América de Televisión, Teófila Parisaca, and FAP TV journalist Javier Averanga were harassed in El Alto. A police officer attempted to detain the reporter even though both had shown their press credentials.
That same day, journalists Vladimir Rojas and Ramiro Charca of Radio Televisión Popular (RTP) were injured during an ambush by road blockers in the town of Lipari, 18 kilometers south of La Paz.
On May 18, a television cameraman was attacked with dynamite while recording anti-government protests in La Paz. That same day, a journalist lost consciousness after inhaling tear gas during clashes between protesters and police.
On May 22, violence by protesters in La Paz affected César Gonzales, correspondent for Mexico’s Agencia Internacional de Noticias GlobaLAT, who received emergency medical attention for an injury caused by pyrotechnics. Other cameramen and photographers were also assaulted during the clashes.
On June 6, an ATB vehicle was robbed in the municipality of San Julián, Santa Cruz. Unidentified individuals threatened the driver with a bladed weapon and stole equipment accessories and personal belongings.
That same day, in another area of San Julián, journalist Álex Contreras Siñani of Radio Televisión 24 de junio and his cameraman, Saúl Janco, escaped a machete attack. The crew lost two motorcycles: one was stolen and the other was set on fire by protesters.
Difficulties facing the press were also evident in the judicial and economic spheres. From Sucre, Correo del Sur informed its readers of the risk of closure due to five labor lawsuits demanding the immediate payment of multimillion-dollar sums and threatening the detention of its director. The newspaper, which has been published since 1987, acknowledged its obligations, but its executives denounced the existence of “extortionate practices” during the judicial proceedings.
