As a Nicaraguan journalist forced into exile, Lucía Pineda has seen firsthand the dangers of independent journalism in her home country. Since being stripped of her nationality and having her assets confiscated by the government led by Daniel Ortega, critical voices in Nicaragua have become increasingly rare.
Pineda, who now holds Costa Rican nationality and lives in the country, has expressed that practicing journalism in Nicaragua has become a living hell. The ongoing sociopolitical crisis that began in April 2018 has only made things worse, with many journalists facing repression and imprisonment for speaking out against the regime.
The high cost of living in countries such as Costa Rica, the United States, or Spain, where many Nicaraguan journalists have gone into exile for security reasons, also contributes to the decline in independent journalism in Nicaragua. Many journalists have had to find alternative jobs to survive in their new countries of residence. Despite these challenges, a few journalists continue their work from exile, including the director of the 100% Noticias platform, who served six months in prison as part of the press repression in Nicaragua.
According to veteran journalist Sergio Marín, the repression of journalists in Nicaragua has worsened press freedom in the country. He criticized Daniel Ortega’s dictatorship for its aggressive actions against Nicaraguan journalism, including confiscating media and mass-exiling journalists. Despite these challenges, Marín believes that independent media outlets will continue to connect with audiences in Nicaragua and maintain credibility through their work from exile.
The Foundation for Freedom of Expression and Democracy (FLED) based in Costa Rica has also noted a decline in journalistic practice by Nicaraguan journalists due to government repression and financial constraints. The organization warned that fear of practicing journalism is threatening generational change within the profession and that there is a lack of quality journalism schools available in Nicaragua.
Overall, it seems that independent journalism is facing extinction within Nicaragua due to government repression and economic factors forcing many journalists into exile. However, despite these challenges, some journalists continue their work from abroad while others fear for their safety if they return home.