In a scenario of economic crisis and dispute for political power, freedom of the press has been violated by the action of judges interested in breaking the secrecy of the source of information, by violent attacks on women reporters, and by stigmatizing discourse against journalism.
Journalists and printed newspapers continue to be systematically asphyxiated by political power through the discrimination of official advertising, benefiting the communication networks supporting the government.
Likewise, the persecution of private advertisers who wish to advertise in the media questioned by the government continues, under threat of inspection by the tax collection agency.
After denying and rejecting warnings about the effects of high fuel subsidies, President Luis Arce blamed the economic crisis on the previous administration of Evo Morales, in which Arce himself served as Minister of Economy. On September 8, Arce admitted the failure of the model he promoted as minister, revealed the high level of foreign debt service, and promised to reverse the trend and obtain investments, after which he asked Congress to approve foreign loans.
The National Press Association (ANP) recorded 12 attacks on journalists and support personnel during a march encouraged by former president Morales.
On September 17, several demonstrators attacked Cadena A correspondent Irene Torrez, injuring her back and forcing her to erase images from her cell phone.
A journalist from SEO TV and a vehicle and press team from DTV were also attacked on the same day.
On September 19, a press team of the state channel Bolivia TV was held for more than an hour, suffered the theft of video equipment, and was verbally attacked by supporters of former president Morales.
In the area of information technology, the web page of the Santa Cruz de la Sierra newspaper El Deber was attacked in May, where hate messages were disseminated.
On May 9, journalist Noelia Flores and her cameraman Kevin Rodas, of the privately-owned ATB network, were attacked by police officers in the city of Santa Cruz while covering an inspection organized by the Public Prosecutor's Office.
On June 19, the ANP expressed solidarity with investigative journalist Guider Arancibia of the newspaper El Deber and lawyer Raquel Guerrero due to threats and harassment for reporting a case of violence against a woman.
On July 18, journalistic organizations rejected a government call to journalists to testify about the military takeover of June 26, in a process that the government is promoting to prove its theory of a "failed coup d'état."
On September 12, journalist Fabiola Lima suffered an attack while covering news in the city of Villa Montes. She reported that as a result of the aggression, she is suffering psychological damage.
In cases against journalists involving the judiciary, on May 12, a prosecutor forced the Televisión Universitaria de Pando team to erase images after inspecting nightclubs and under threat of seizure of the video camera.
In June, a prosecutor in the city of Santa Cruz called for the cessation of legal proceedings against police captain Victor Hugo Santalices, accused of violence and beatings against journalists of the private television network Unitel on January 1, 2023.
Under threat of arrest, sports journalist Jaime Vega was ordered by a judge to appear as a witness on September 18 in a defamation trial. The ANP protested, warning that this is inappropriate because the journalist enjoys special measures and is protected by the Printing Press Law.
After 34 years of circulation, La Razón closed the print news cycle and announced its switch to digital media. The newspaper explained to its readers that one of the causes is the "current Bolivian economic crisis, with its impact on foreign currency flows."
