Carlos Fernando Chamorro, the 68-year-old pioneer and manager of Confidencial, a Nicaraguan media channel, was forced into exile in 2021. The reason behind his escape, along with his complete newsroom staff, was the oppressive rule in Nicaragua that criminalised autonomous journalism.
“There has been a complete and utter criminalisation of the freedom of press and expression since 2021, pushing not just me but the entire independent journalism fraternity in Nicaragua into exile,” Chamorro stated during a telephonic interview from Costa Rica, held on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day.
Chamorro mentioned that operating a media network while living abroad was not a brief crisis but a lasting situation. Such circumstances are shared with journalists from multiple countries including Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, Russia, Myanmar and others. In their discussions, they reflect on the ongoing issues faced by media in exile, emphasising that it’s not a short spanned predicament but a long term concern.
Chamorro’s ded, Pedro was an individual who dared to voice opposition, editing a newspaper in Nicaragua during the reign of the Somoza regime. His assassination back in 1978 played a crucial role in bringing about the downfall of that regime.
Carlos had openly expressed support to Daniel Ortega’s Sandinista National Liberation Front, which succeeded the Somoza regime in the 1980s, even when his mother Violeta was contesting against Ortega during the presidential elections of 1990. But when Ortega came back to power in 2021 for the fourth time, he set off a brutal era of repression that targeted any independent political and civic movements, with journalists being amongst the prime victims.
Chamorro informs that amidst this environment, between 20 to 25 media establishments with approximately 200 staff members have taken refuge in Costa Rica. Those still remaining in the country are forced to self-censor. He adds, “You are left with two choices, either you choose imprisonment or continue with journalism in exile. Our team chose the latter. We manage to keep our focus on Nicaragua in spite of the difficulties because not just journalists, even our news sources are criminalised. Hence, we need to safeguard our sources whilst avoiding attributing information to independent sources as it too, unfortunately, is considered a crime.”
Confidencial, an independent media outlet, has been banned from advertising, leading it to depend on funds from supporters of independent journalism, income generated through its website and YouTube channel, and contributions from its readers, half of whom reside within Nicaragua. Instead of a paywall, the media outlet allows unrestricted access to its content.
Producing legitimate information from outside is fraught with obstacles, including the threat to the media outlet’s sources due to the country’s state of oppression. Thus, substantial efforts are put into verifying details and safeguarding informants. Moreover, maintaining sustainable operations is another mounting challenge as the repressive environment is not temporary, having continued for three years already.
While readers and spectators in Nicaragua can discreetly view material from foreign independent news providers, open dialogue about the content, particularly on platforms like social media, is prohibited and considered illegal. For instance, journalist Victor Tacay was incarcerated for six years merely for airing footage of an Easter procession on his news-focused Facebook page.
Mr Chamorro, from Confidencial, indicated that the primary mission is not about shifting government policies, as such an outcome isn’t foreseeable, but to surpass daily censorship and deliver their content to their audience. The focus is on recording factual information in pursuit of future judicial fairness.
He mentioned, “We are gathering facts, testimonials, and proof. It’s a critical stage in the journey towards justice. The process takes time.”
The global press freedom index, published annually by Reporters Without Borders on World Press Freedom Day, ranked Nicaragua as 158th out of the 180 countries listed last year. Conversely, Ireland secured the second place.