Independent communicators critical of the system in Nicaragua are facing extinction due to government repression and financial constraints. Exiled journalist Lucía Pineda, who was stripped of her nationality and had her assets confiscated by the government led by Daniel Ortega, expressed that practicing journalism in Nicaragua has become a living hell. The sociopolitical crisis that has been ongoing since April 2018 has led to fewer voices reporting on the situation due to repression by the Nicaraguan State, controlled by Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo.
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 the difficulties, a few journalists continue their work from exile, including the director of the 100% Noticias platform, who served six months in prison in 2019 as part of the press repression in Nicaragua.
Veteran journalist Sergio Marín criticized the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega for its aggressive actions against Nicaraguan journalism, including the confiscation of media and mass exile of journalists. Despite the challenges, Marín believes that independent media outlets in exile will continue to connect with audiences in Nicaragua and maintain credibility. The Foundation for Freedom of Expression and Democracy (FLED) in Costa Rica has also noted a decline in journalistic practice by Nicaraguan journalists due to government repression and financial constraints. The organization warned of a threat to the generational change in journalism in Nicaragua due to fear of practicing the profession and the lack of quality journalism schools in the country.
In an interview with Pineda, she emphasized that identifying oneself as a non-governmental journalist is impossible without being considered an enemy of Ortega’s regime. This situation has led to at least 253 journalists and media workers from Nicaragua being forced into exile since 2018, with at least 56 media outlets being closed or confiscated by the government.
The decline in independent journalism is not just limited to physical repression but also extends beyond it. Financial constraints imposed on journalists make it challenging for them to sustain themselves while pursuing their craft. Pineda explained how many journalists have had to resort