“Our main challenge is the Trump administration’s relentless and often unconstitutional attacks on the free press¨.
Marc Lacey, left, receives the award from IAPA former President, Roberto Rock.
Bogotá, Colombia (October 24, 2026) — The New York Times was awarded the 2026 Grand Prize for Press Freedom today during the 82nd General Assembly of the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) in Bogotá, Colombia. Marc Lacey, editorial director, accepted the award on behalf of the U.S. newspaper.
The award recognizes The New York Times’ commitment to independent journalism and the defense of the constitutional guarantees that protect the practice of the profession. In the face of growing political and judicial pressures facing the media in the United States, the newspaper has maintained a firm stance in defense of the First Amendment and the right of journalists to investigate and disseminate information of public interest without undue restrictions.
During the award ceremony, Roberto Rock, editor-in-chief of La Silla Rota (Mexico), emphasized that the outlet’s strength lies in a culture that places the pursuit of truth, journalistic rigor, and accountability at the heart of its mission.
“A free press does not exist to please those in power or to confirm preconceived ideas; it exists to ask questions, verify facts, expose irregularities, and provide society with the information it needs to understand and make decisions,” Rock stated.
Recently, the newspaper has faced lawsuits filed by the U.S. president and has turned to the courts to challenge government restrictions on the press’s access to the Pentagon.
Upon accepting the award on behalf of The New York Times, Marc Lacey highlighted the work of his colleagues: “I am here representing thousands of journalists at The New York Times who work heroically every day, under particularly difficult conditions, in the United States and around the world.”
“Our main challenge is the Trump administration’s relentless and often unconstitutional attacks on the free press, designed to punish news organizations and journalists who produce coverage the president does not like,” he said.
Lacey also emphasized the newspaper’s independence in the face of pressure. “At a time when people and organizations around us are taking sides or yielding to pressure, we maintain a firm independence,” he stated. He added that the newspaper addresses major issues from multiple perspectives, guided by the facts and an open mind.
The SIP Grand Prize for Press Freedom, awarded since 1954, honors those who have made freedom of the press a conviction, a public responsibility, and an act of courage.
