This period has seen a growing wave of increasingly violent and systematic aggressions against journalists, many of which come from state actors. The abusive use of the judiciary to silence journalists, forced exile, and extortion by criminal organizations have also increased.
Due to the lack of state support and protection guarantees, threatened journalists continued to go into exile. Despite President Daniel Noboa's endorsement of the Chapultepec and Salta declarations, the Communication Council announced that the budget requested for the Protection Mechanism was rejected. It included US$784,000 for two years, of which US$66,000 was for an emergency fund.
The Mesa de Articulación para la Protección de Periodistas (MAPP) of Fundamedios reported the relocation of an Ecuadorian journalist, the fourth this year, whose name is withheld for security reasons, who received death threats for publishing content of local interest.
Cuban satirist Alondra Santiago, who had her visa withdrawn by the Government for making a mockery of the national anthem, also had to leave the country.
On the first anniversary of the murder of presidential candidate and journalist Fernando Villavicencio, some perpetrators were sentenced, but the masterminds remain unidentified. The crime occurred 11 days before the 2023 elections.
Reports from various non-governmental organizations highlighted that organized crime has consolidated itself as one of the main attackers of freedom of expression.
Threats and judicial processes have also become the most frequent forms of aggression and tools of censorship and control over journalism.
Among other aggressions of the semester, in April, Esteban Torres, vice minister of Government, disqualified as fake news an article by Martín Pallares in Expreso newspaper, insinuating that the journalist was writing under incentives. The Municipality of Quito requested the media to disseminate only official information after a flood in La Gasca to control the emergency narrative. Daniel Granja, former advisor to the Assembly, was separated for attacking the press on social networks while holding a public office.
Yutsu Maiche of Lanceros Digitales was attacked while covering a conflict in the Shuar Federation. The National Electoral Council responded to the newspaper La Hora and described as false a criticism of the referendum without presenting evidence. Diego Morales, of the municipality of Latacunga, published a comment considered threatening to journalist Cristian Maisincho.
In May, after a presidential visit to the Mazar hydroelectric complex, minister Roberto Luque prevented questions at a press conference while security guards assaulted journalist Amanda Villavicencio. Environment Minister Sade Fritschi did not allow questions about controversies in her presentation to the Assembly's Biodiversity Commission.
In June, a Supercable TV crew was verbally assaulted by the daughter of the mayor of Calvas and was prohibited from covering a mayoral event. The governor of Esmeraldas threatened journalist Cristian Guzmán after a critical report and accused him of being a criminal.
RTU canceled the critical program "The Irreverent," hosted by Sol Borja, Fabricio Vela, and José Luis Cañizares, after pressure from the Government, which included the withdrawal of advertising and suspension of payments.
In July, the governor of Santa Elena, Freddy Tamayo, threatened to revoke concessions to media outlets he considered dishonest.
In August, journalist Alvaro Espinosa was threatened by a troll account related to a former official after publishing critical information. Major Fernando Sánchez, director of Aviation of the Quito Fire Department, accused Franklin Vega, editor of Bitácora Ambiental, of being suspected of starting forest fires. The journalist considered the accusation slander and retaliation for criticizing the firefighters.
In September, Paúl Romero of Ecuavisa and Édison Paucar of Radio Pichincha denounced that they were excluded from a press conference of the Security Block at the National Police General Command so that they could not ask about a contract and a corruption investigation. Deputy Minister of Government Esteban Torres confronted journalist Martín Pallares on social networks after he recalled a criticism by Torres of the previous Government.
The Presidential Communications Secretary, Irene Vélez, in a meeting with journalists at the presidential palace, assured that there would be no press persecution but admitted that they could choose not to invest in critical media.
In April, journalist Juber Bravo of JipiTV found four bullets in his garage after criticizing the administration of the mayor of Jipijapa and presenting an investigation into the high municipal budget. Bravo denounced that, feeling intimidated, he stopped attacking the municipality as a method of self-protection.
The newspaper Prensa La Verdad, in Milagro, was the target of an attack with shots fired at its headquarters building. The owner, William Reyes, reported the attack to the police after reviewing the security cameras. The assailant was a man on a motorcycle.
Canal del Río Quevedo received an intimidating pamphlet demanding the payment of US$80,000 in exchange for not attacking its owner, Jorge Lema, and his team. Despite attempts by an intruder to enter his house, the channel continued with its newscast only in the evening edition.
In August, journalist Segundo Cabrera received a threatening phone call after publishing a report on corruption, while journalist Thalia Flores suffered a violent assault in Quito: she was attacked by a man who took her phone and shook her violently.
Eduardo Loaiza, news director of Radio Stereo Macará, was denounced in April by Mayor Francisco Azuero for a criminal offense related to discrediting. Azuero was criticized and accused of bribery, while Loaiza maintains that he only did his reporting job.
In June, the Supercable TV Cariamanga team was verbally assaulted by Svetlana Montero, director of the Ministry of Inclusion, after a critical comment by journalist Lauro Vicente Rueda. Montero denounced Rueda, which led to preventive measures, including a restraining order.
In July, journalist Jonathan Quezada was sentenced to 15 days in prison for allegedly "discrediting" Judge Hernán Chérres while investigating allegations of corruption in the Bolívar judicial system. Quezada reported mismanagement and had been threatened by Chérres.
In September, Carlos Barcia of Radio Manta Televisión sued Ingrid Rodríguez, manager of the Manta Port Terminal, for alleged infringement after publishing a report on a contract.
Judge María Castro rejected the protection action filed by Wilman Terán against Teleamazonas, where he alleged that the attorney general made damaging statements against him. During the hearing, Terán did not present evidence, and his lawyer argued that the broadcaster had defended freedom of expression.
During this period, attacks continued on social networks through troll accounts, media impersonation on the networks, and cyber attacks on the media's pages.
In April, journalist María Sol Borja faced misogynistic attacks after publishing a column critical of President Noboa due to the energy crisis. This situation is added to other episodes of aggression against women journalists, such as the case of Sara Ortiz, who received sexist comments for revealing her vote in a widespread consultation.
In May, Xavier Jordán, linked to a case of organized crime, threatened Aleczandra Villavicencio and her relatives on social networks.
In August and September, several journalists reported cyber-attacks and identity theft. John Lafebre reported the deletion of his publications, while Jaime Pin warned about the impersonation of his account on social networks. In addition, Radio Pichincha faced persistent attacks on its platforms, reflecting a systematic effort to silence critical voices.
Other relevant data during this period:
On April 12, supporters of Correism gathered outside the National Court of Justice in Quito to support former vice president Jorge Glas during his 'habeas corpus' hearing. The situation became hostile towards the press, with insults such as "corrupt press," "Teleamazonas, we have you in our sights," and "whore of the oligarchy." Although a court declared his detention in the Mexican Embassy as "arbitrary and illegal," Glas remains in prison for serving two sentences for corruption in the 'Odebrecht' and 'Bribes' cases.
On April 15, the newspaper El Comercio returned to its digital version after eight months of inactivity.
On April 20, there was an attack on the newspaper Prensa La Verdad in Milagro. According to the police, nine bullet impacts were found in the facilities. Police commander José Luis López received a complaint from the owner of the newspaper, William Reyes, who reported the attack after reviewing the security cameras. In the images, a subject on a motorcycle can be seen shooting at the building around midnight.
That day, hours before the referendum, the National Electoral Council (CNE) accused the newspaper La Hora and national journalism by labeling "False" a critical article on the promotion of the referendum.
In May, Fundamedios condemned the failure to comply with the Constitutional Court's ruling ordering the declassification of information on the case of journalists Paúl Rivas, Javier Ortega, and Efraín Segarra, kidnapped and murdered in 2018. The April 8 ruling demanded the release of minutes, audio, and lists of attendees related to the #NosFaltan3 case. The families received documents on May 9, but the findings were described as "incomplete and manipulated."
In August, Andersson Boscán and Mónica Velásquez of the digital media La Posta became the target of a hate campaign on social networks inciting violence. It arose as a result of the publication of an investigation into alleged corruption of the Attorney General's Office with international drug trafficking. In September, journalists Boscán and Velásquez left the country.
