Community Journalism in Guatemala

In the year following the inauguration of Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo—a watershed moment for the country’s democracy—Freedom House proudly joined an international delegation to conduct a fact-finding mission on the state of community journalism and the freedom of expression in Guatemala.  

From October 2024 to January 2025, the coalition conducted a series of small-group and one-on-one interviews with journalists and media workers across the country, including women and those from indigenous communities. 

The final report spotlights community journalism in Guatemala as a vital tool for giving a voice to indigenous and historically oppressed communities, deeply rooted in cultural identity and local accountability. These journalists provide essential coverage in areas often ignored by the mainstream media, yet face severe threats including criminalization, violence, censorship, and structural discrimination. The report concludes with a series of recommendations urging the Guatemalan government, alongside the international community, to publicly recognize and protect community media, implement culturally sensitive protection mechanisms, and end the judicial harassment of community journalists.  

This project would not have been possible without the support of our partners: ARTICLE 19 México y Centroamérica, la Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa (FLIP), Free Press Unlimited, Reporters Without Borders, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Protection International Mesoamérica, and DEMOS Instituto Centroamericano para la Democracia Social.