“Journalism must tell stories silenced by the powerful”

Awarded by DW with the Freedom of Speech Awards 2023, Óscar Martínez fights corruption and mismanagement in El Salvador with investigative journalism. Latin America is one of the most dangerous regions for journalists A journalist who writes in Central America on topics such as drug trafficking, corruption and organized crime lives under constant threat, comments Óscar Martínez: “Chicanas go from defamation by officials and merchants, aimed at putting journalists behind bars, complaints, threats of violence and even deadly attacks”.

Martínez is one of Latin America’s most respected investigative journalists, whose reporting consistently captures the public’s attention. Born in 1983 in El Salvador, he is editor-in-chief of the online magazine El Faro. Launched in 1998 as a zero-budget project, today it is one of the main Latin American investigative vehicles, a true enthusiast of independent journalism and, above all, courageous, in the region, considered one of the most dangerous in the world for journalists.

Even in El Salvador, the situation has dramatically worsened for journalists in the recent past. Since he took power in 2019, President Nayib Bukele has repeatedly attacked and threatened professionals critical of the government, blocked many on social media and sought to discredit the press as an enemy of the people.

A state of exception decreed by the government has been in force in the country since March 2022: constitutional rights such as freedom of expression, the secrecy of correspondence (including in digital communications) and freedom of assembly have been abolished. But Martinez is not intimidated.

“Journalism must continue to illuminate the dark corners that the powerful would rather leave in darkness. I believe it must continue to tell the stories that are being silenced by the powerful. I also believe that given the current circumstances, journalism is facing a great challenge: survival. We must stay alert, defend ourselves against attacks and resist, because journalism is essential in Central America right now.”

Journalism as an element of balance in society

Sergio Arauz, deputy director of the online magazine, recalls the beginnings of Martínez: “In 2008, Óscar wanted to write a report on migration. He took the job very seriously, it was one of El Faro’s first major journalistic projects. the basic idea was to stay on site to tell the story of the journey, with the necessary time, with another vision and with the intention of becoming a true expert in this field.”

“From this project a book was born with all the reports he had done in a year and a half, when he followed the migratory routes and spoke with the migrants”, recalls Arauz. Since then, Martínez has published several books on migration and organized crime in Central America.

“I think Óscar is already a reference in the Spanish language of journalism, not only for his books, but also for his daily work in El Faro. If you read his latest book, you will understand what I’m talking about : it is a very important treatise for anyone who wants to understand the journalism profession.”

Freedom of Speech Award

DW now recognizes this importance, awarding Óscar Martínez, in 2023, the Freedom of Speech Award. Angélica Cárcamo, president of the Association of Journalists of El Salvador (monkeys), underlines the significance for Central America of this award dedicated to freedom of expression: the fact that it goes to her country “means honoring the courage and work of so many journalists who feel the negative effects in their lives”.

“It is also a recognition for a vehicle like El Faro, which has always been dedicated to documenting the corruption and excesses of an increasingly less transparent political power and which seeks at all costs to curb the citizens’ right to correct information”.

“The award is also an appeal to the Salvadoran state, which refuses to recognize the meaning of free and independent journalism as an instrument of control, which instead criminalizes it, and thus further strengthens corruption in the country,” continues Cárcamo. “It is important that this award is given in this context and that a journalist is not expected to be arrested or killed before acknowledging the significance of his work for citizens.”

The Freedom of Speech Awards 2023 will be presented to Óscar Martínez on June 19, during the DW Global Media Forum in Bonn.

Source: Terra

Rose

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