The executive editor of the news agency participated in the IAPA midyear meeting
Miami (April 25, 2025) — In a powerful conversation on the state of press freedom in the United States, Julie Pace, Executive Editor and Senior Vice President of The Associated Press (AP), joined Martha Ramos, President of Gender Equity and Diversity at the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) and Editorial Director of Organización Editorial Mexicana, during a panel at the IAPA's midyear conference.
Pace detailed the AP’s challenges in maintaining independent journalism under the current U.S. administration, including the White House’s decision to remove AP from the presidential press pool after the agency refused to rename the “Gulf of Mexico” as the “Gulf of America” in line with a presidential executive order. Pace explained that, as a fact-based, nonpartisan, and global news organization operating in over 100 countries, AP stands by its editorial principles, not political pressures.
"Our mission is to provide facts, context, and information to audiences across the political spectrum," said Pace. "We are not here to support or oppose any elected official — our role is to uphold the truth."
Pace praised AP’s journalists for their resilience, describing how they continued to appear daily at White House events despite being barred from access. “You can try to block us, you can try to shut us out, but we are going to find other ways to continue doing journalism, because at AP, we’ve been doing this for almost 200 years,” she said.
A recent court ruling upheld AP’s editorial independence, a victory Pace said was crucial for the First Amendment rights of all Americans.
During the conversation, Ramos highlighted the implications of government efforts to control narratives and restrict access to information. Pace acknowledged the risks posed by misinformation and the overwhelming volume of news, stressing the importance of linking press freedom issues directly to citizens’ fundamental rights.
"Freedom of speech is not just a media issue — it's about every citizen’s right to express themselves without fear of government retaliation," Pace concluded.
The IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.