When we think of press freedom, we normally associate it with the fundamental pillars of democracy, as it fosters greater transparency, accountability and civic participation. However, in many cases, this “freedom of the press” is exercised under political, institutional and even legal pressure potentially affecting how national realities are reported and ultimately understood by the citizens.

In Latin America, the conditions under which journalism is practiced are normally shaped by pressures coming from different factors; political polarization and tension between governments and the media have affected the relationship between public authorities and journalists in several countries. On the other hand, the expansion of organized crime and criminal networks has created additional risks for journalists, especially for those reporting on violence, corruption and illicit economies.

In 2026, Ecuador fell to 125th place out of 180 nations in the Reporteros Sin Fronteras World Press Freedom Index. The organization currently describes Ecuadorian journalism as a profession practiced in an environment of growing insecurity, self-censorship and hostility. Beyond figures or the country’s standing in international indices, several incidents that occurred in 2026 illustrate how these tensions manifest in practice and raise a broader question regarding the limits of press freedom in a democracy.

In reality, behind numbers and statistics, journalists have increasingly experienced the consequences of their work in their personal lives.

During the first half of 2026, Fundamedios documented 100 attacks on freedom of expression in Ecuador. Journalists were the primary victims, accounting for 58 of these cases. The documented events included digital attacks, threats, stigmatizing rhetoric, censorship and legal proceedings, showing the different forms of pressure that can affect the media nowadays.

In June 2026, Hernán Higuera, a journalist for Ecuavisa, announced he would stop investigating the Progen case (which involves power generation contracts), as he explained it had affected his family. Ecuavisa later stated that his wife, who worked for a public institution, had been fired and his son had been removed from his medical internship. However, a direct causal relationship between his investigation and the decisions affecting his family has not been established.

The pressures surrounding journalism in the country are not limited to the political or digital scenarios. In a nation affected by a security crisis and the expansion of organized crime, reporting on certain topics can also mean operating in high-risk environments.

Another of the most recent cases involved a reporting team from Teleamazonas, one of Ecuador’s national television networks. In July 2026, journalist Juan Miguel Rodriguez, along with an intern and a cameraman, was covering the murder of a teacher in Quito. As the team was conducting interviews and gathering information and pictures of the scene, a man approached them and warned them to stop investigating the case.