During this period, serious violations of press freedom continued to be recorded. The most severe incident occurred on January 24, when journalist Óscar Gómez Agudelo was murdered in Armenia, Quindío department. He was shot while entering the radio station where he worked. He had reported threats due to his journalistic work, which involved denouncing corruption and drug trafficking. Four men were arrested as the material perpetrators, but there is no clarity about the intellectual author, prompting press associations to urge the Prosecutor's Office to persist in the investigation.
Journalist Víctor Daniel Pino, who works for an independent media outlet in Soledad, Atlántico department, survived an attack on October 30, 2024.
Threats against independent media and journalists stood out. Among these cases are José Ignacio Arango from Noticias Cúcuta 75; Eder Narváez, director of NP Noticias Online in Caucasia, Antioquia; members of the media outlet La Lupa Araucana in Arauca; and intimidations against communicators in southern Córdoba, harassed by illegal groups. Edward Fabián Álvarez from La Chiva de Urabá, Antioquia, was threatened with death on social networks by the National Liberation Army (ELN).
Attacks on the press by the national government continue to be a common practice. President Gustavo Petro, who signed a presidential directive to respect press freedom, systematically violates it and continues to stigmatize journalistic work. He labels the press that publishes critical investigations of his administration as "liars" and accuses, without evidence, the media that report problems in his government of inciting supposed coups or belonging to the "far right" and spreading misinformation. He reproaches the press for not reporting what he considers should be covered. This attitude is consistently replicated by officials and members of his congressional caucus.
In response, the Colombian Association of Information Media (AMI) launched a communication campaign in October 2024, inviting the public to demand respect for press freedom, reject stigmatization, and freely choose their information consumption.
In December, more than 30 media outlets published an editorial titled "For a Pillar of Freedoms." The text invited people to reject incitements to hatred and contempt for journalism.
The government continued offering unrestricted support to media aligned with its interests and those it labels alternative, coordinating communication agendas under the official line. These media outlets are incentivized by the "thirds law" (an official policy granting them 33% of government advertising content) and significant investments in content.
The government also strengthens public media but uses them as propaganda mechanisms. For decades, the robust public media system remained free from propagandistic content.
In a post on X, President Petro labeled the journalism of media that does not align with RTVC's vision of reality as "false journalism." He praised RTVC as a "beacon of truth." He referred to "Nazis who want to shut it down," alluding to complaints from former employees of this entity who have reported workplace harassment by its manager, Hollman Morris.
The Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP) also produced a report documenting more than 30 testimonies from RTVC workers who denounce an environment of censorship and editorial pressure to suppress content with opinions contrary to the government.
Regarding legislative initiatives in Congress that pose risks to press freedom, the bill on retraction, which provides for fines for those who do not retract, and the personal data bill, which aims to apply the principles of this discipline to journalistic work, contrary to inter-American standards, stand out.
Amid the intense atmosphere of political polarization, attacks have been recorded during demonstrations and marches against some members of media outlets stigmatized as opponents of the government, as well as against those aligned with its ideology.
