El Salvador Sees Massive Journalist Exodus in 2025 Amidst State Pressure

The Salvadoran press is facing an unprecedented crisis, with 2025 marking the most significant exodus of journalists in at least 30 years, a situation not seen since the end of the civil war. The Salvadoran Association of Journalists (APES) has sounded the alarm, reporting that at least 53 media professionals fled the country last year. Their reasons are stark: fear of arbitrary arrests, constant surveillance, threats, and a pervasive climate of pressure orchestrated by state institutions now firmly under the control of President Nayib Bukele. This exodus paints a grim picture of the media landscape in El Salvador, where journalists feel increasingly unsafe and constrained in their ability to report freely. APES documented a staggering 426 aggressions against media workers in 2025 alone, ranging from digital harassment to public stigmatization and restrictions on their professional activities. The report emphasizes that journalists live in constant fear of being targeted, potentially appearing on lists of individuals deemed 'enemies of the state.' This chilling environment, exacerbated by the ongoing state of exception implemented to combat gangs, has led many to seek refuge abroad, fearing for their safety and liberty. The situation is a grave concern for press freedom and democratic discourse in the nation.

“

L'Etat salvadorien «continue d'être le principal agresseur de la presse»