Presentation of the 2025 IAPA Grand Prize for Press Freedom to Daniel Coronell, President of Univision Noticias, Televisa Univision
Presentation of the 2025 IAPA Grand Prize for Press Freedom to Daniel Coronell, President of Univision Noticias, Televisa Univision
October 18, 2025
Dear colleagues,
We are gathered to honor a profession that is much more than a trade; it is a mission and, often, a sacrifice. In a world where disinformation, polarization, corruption, and violence threaten the stability of our societies, the work of journalists is more vital than ever. It is precisely to recognize this work that the IAPA established the Grand Prize for Press Freedom, awarded for the past 71 years.
This award, created in 1954, was not conceived as a mere recognition, but as a testament to the commitment of institutions and individuals who have dedicated their professional and ethical principles to journalism—the essential task of continuing to inform with courage, even in the face of risk.
Throughout its history, this award has honored the bravery of journalists such as Argentina’s Magdalena Ruiz Guiñazú, Colombia’s Jineth Bedoya, the American and cherished friend Robert Cox, as well as independent Cuban journalists who continued reporting from prison, or the posthumous work of Mexican colleagues killed for investigating those in power.
It is in this spirit that we are proud today to bestow our highest distinction upon a journalist whose career is a living reflection of these principles. We refer, of course, to Daniel Coronell.
Daniel is a persevering investigative journalist and opinion leader whose career has marked a turning point in Latin American journalism. His impact has been felt on multiple fronts: as a reporter in his native Colombia, as news director for networks such as Noticias RCN and Noticias Uno, as founder of influential media outlets like the portal Los Danieles and the weekly Cambio, and currently as President of News at Univision, one of the most important networks in the United States.
His career has been guided by an unrelenting pursuit of the truth, revealing some of the biggest scandals of recent decades—from links between drug trafficking and politics to high-impact investigations involving former President Álvaro Uribe. That commitment to truth earned him recognition for 16 consecutive years as the most widely read columnist among opinion leaders in Colombia.
Yet that same integrity has come at a high cost. His investigative work provoked multiple threats that forced him into a painful exile in 2005. Still, none of these threats succeeded in silencing his voice or breaking his determination to continue reporting.
It is an honor for the IAPA to recognize Daniel, who has embodied the values we defend. Daniel has not only reported the news but has inspired generations of journalists to resist intimidation, uphold rigor, and remember that our sole loyalty must be to the truth.
For his extraordinary career and steadfast commitment to our profession, it is an honor to award him the IAPA Grand Prize for Press Freedom 2025. Congratulations, Daniel!
