IAPA Midyear Meeting. April 23 - 24, 2026.
During the period, the environment for press freedom remained stable, with no evidence of direct censorship or coercive regulations. However, there were isolated incidents of physical and verbal attacks against journalists by security agents and public officials.
The National Congress has yet to reach consensus on the reform of Law 6132 on Freedom of Expression and Dissemination of Thought, promoted by the executive branch and drafted with the participation of media associations such as the Dominican Newspaper Society (SDD), the Dominican College of Journalists (CDP), and civil society organizations. The initiative seeks to expand protections for journalism, although it faces objections over the creation of a National Institute of Communication, which some sectors view as a potential mechanism of control.
Several incidents during the period interfered with media work.
In late December, journalists María Tejada of the news channel CDN and Natalia Estrella of Teleuniverso were assaulted by personnel from the Santiago Water and Sewer Corporation (CORAASAN) while covering a water distribution operation in a neighborhood affected by pipe ruptures that had left residents without service for several weeks.
In March, a National Police officer cocked his weapon and pointed it at a group of reporters, while other officers used pepper spray to block coverage of an arrest operation in the Alma Rosa neighborhood of Santo Domingo, related to a teacher accused of assaulting a minor at a daycare center. During the incident, journalists Ana Laura López with Último Minuto and Jessica Hernández with Red Nacional de Noticias suffered bruises and fainted. Police leadership condemned the incident, referred the officer to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and stated that such abuses will not be tolerated. The CDP also denounced the attack.
Also in March, journalists Ramón Miguel Gutiérrez López and Joan Santana were placed under “preventive detention,” accused of libel and defamation against former National Police director, retired Major General Ramón Antonio Guzmán Peralta, for publishing an audit that allegedly attributed irregularities totaling 441 million Dominican pesos (approximately USD 7.5 million) in procurement, payments, and contracting during his tenure at the General Directorate of Traffic and Transport Security. The judge imposed alternative measures, including a financial bond of 500,000 pesos (around USD 8,350), a travel ban, and periodic court appearances. The decision sparked protests from press groups.
