The price of silence

This report examines a growing trend in Latin America: behind-the-scenes government interference with media freedom and editorial independence. These abuses, characterized as 'soft censorship,' remain largely invisible to the general public, while casting a long, insidious shadow on free expression. In particular, this report documents government abuses of financial and regulatory powers over the media, such as those related to advertising and licensing processes, as well as other content-based interferences. It also describes forms of government pressure that may be very powerful and direct--such as ultimatums to fire vocal journalists--but which have remained unexposed and unchallenged. The study catalogues abuses in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Peru, and Uruguay.