In a significant recognition of journalistic perseverance, La Prensa, Nicaragua’s oldest newspaper, was awarded the prestigious UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2025. The accolade comes amid increasing challenges faced by the publication as President Daniel Ortega intensifies his control over the country. Founded nearly a century ago, La Prensa has been compelled to publish from abroad since Nicaraguan authorities raided its offices in 2021, arresting its manager, Juan Lorenzo Holmann Chamorro.
Holmann, sentenced in 2022 to nine years in prison and subsequently deported to the United States in 2023, epitomizes the struggles faced by the newspaper in its dedication to reporting the truth under oppressive conditions. Yasuomi Sawa, chair of the UNESCO jury, praised La Prensa for its courageous efforts to uphold press freedom despite severe repression, aligning it with other civil society organizations forced into exile.
The award highlights the broader challenges in Nicaragua, where independent media has faced increasing censorship, intimidation, and threats, particularly after Ortega’s re-election for a fourth consecutive term in 2021. Reporters Without Borders notes the ongoing “nightmare” for media rights in the country, with many independent and opposition outlets now operating internationally due to government crackdowns.
La Prensa’s history is marked by resilience against various regimes attempting to stifle its voice, from dictator Anastasio Somoza in the 1950s to the Sandinista National Liberation Front in the 1980s. UNESCO noted that the newspaper’s journalists have endured escalating acts of repression, especially since 2021 when the government seized assets and leaders were imprisoned and exiled. Despite these adversities, La Prensa continues to reach Nicaraguan audiences online, with operations spread across Costa Rica, Spain, Mexico, Germany, and the United States.
Holmann, upon receiving the award, underscored the critical role of independent journalism in Nicaragua, where it is heavily criminalized by the state. He dedicated the honor to all journalists working from abroad, whom he described as “apostles of freedom of expression,” shining a light on the importance of maintaining a free and independent press.
The United Nations has recently implicated Ortega, his wife and co-president Rosario Murillo, along with senior officials, in human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions and extrajudicial executions. This award to La Prensa not only underscores its steadfast commitment to journalism but also serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing fight for press freedom in Nicaragua.
