{"id":222735,"date":"2026-05-09T17:42:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T17:42:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/mateo-perez-case-historian-explains-in-timeline-why-journalism-in-colombia-has-been-murdered-for-over-half-a-century\/"},"modified":"2026-05-09T17:42:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T17:42:27","slug":"mateo-perez-case-historian-explains-in-timeline-why-journalism-in-colombia-has-been-murdered-for-over-half-a-century","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/mateo-perez-case-historian-explains-in-timeline-why-journalism-in-colombia-has-been-murdered-for-over-half-a-century\/","title":{"rendered":"Mateo P\u00e9rez Case | Historian Explains in Timeline Why Journalism in Colombia “Has Been Murdered for Over Half a Century”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The historian and content creator reviewed the factors and times in which the situation for journalists in Colombia worsened – credits @historiademelocoton\/IG | Mateo P\u00e9rez Rueda\/Facebook<\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The shocking discovery of Mateo P\u00e9rez Rueda’s body, a 26-year-old journalist who went missing in Brice\u00f1o, Antioquia, has reignited conversations about the perilous state of journalism in Colombia. This incident has stirred further reflection from historian Juliana Bernal, known as ‘Historia de melocot\u00f3n’ online.<\/p>\n

The Historical Context of Journalism in Colombia<\/h2>\n

In her recent analysis, Bernal poses a poignant question: \u201cWhy has journalism been murdered in Colombia for more than half a century?\u201d She traces a timeline filled with decades of violence, censorship, and the tragic murders of journalists, exposing a painful reality.<\/p>\n

\u201cColombia is a country where practicing journalism is an act of bravery and, many times, a death sentence,\u201d Bernal remarks in her presentation. Since the mid-20th century, numerous journalists have faced threats and attacks while reporting on corruption, armed conflicts, and drug trafficking.<\/p>\n

The Perpetrators<\/h3>\n

Violence against journalists in Colombia isn’t confined to one era or group. During the 80s and 90s, drug cartels and armed groups were predominant threats. Today, dissidents, paramilitary factions, and local mafias continue to target those who dare to tell the truth.<\/p>\n

Bernal emphasizes that Mateo P\u00e9rez’s murder is not an isolated incident but rather part of a long tradition of violence against journalists. \u201cMateo is the latest on a list that already includes more than 170 journalists murdered since 1977,\u201d she states. \u201cHis death is emblematic of a country where information can be lethal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Regional Journalists at Risk<\/h2>\n

Regional journalists like P\u00e9rez often find themselves in the crosshairs due to their proximity to local issues. They are the frontline reporters who reveal the stark realities of villages and municipalities where state presence is minimal. \u201cThey are the ones who know the stories that need to be told, making them vulnerable to threats and attacks,\u201d Bernal notes.<\/p>\n

The Cycle of Impunity<\/h3>\n

The enduring violence against journalists stems from a continuously unsolved murder rate, which fosters a culture of fear. \u201cDespite multiple alerts and protection schemes, a majority of murders remain unresolved, allowing perpetrators to act with impunity,\u201d Bernal observes. This sends a distressing message that those who kill journalists are unlikely to face consequences.<\/p>\n

Stigmatization and Silence<\/h2>\n

Stigmatization is another significant factor affecting journalists in Colombia. They are often labeled as enemies of the state or guerrilla sympathizers, which creates a hostile environment. \u201cWhen the government marginalizes journalists, it legitimizes violence against them,\u201d Bernal warns. This hostile backdrop leaves journalists vulnerable and unsupported.<\/p>\n

Remembering the Fallen<\/h2>\n

Bernal calls for an urgent reminder: \u201cEvery murdered journalist is a wound in democracy and a loss in collective memory. It\u2019s essential to grasp that every silence imposed by violence is one less truth for society.\u201d This statement underscores the critical importance of remembering those who have paid the ultimate price in pursuit of truth and justice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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General News – 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The historian and content creator reviewed the factors and times in which the situation for journalists in Colombia worsened – credits @historiademelocoton\/IG | Mateo P\u00e9rez Rueda\/Facebook The shocking discovery of Mateo P\u00e9rez Rueda’s body, a 26-year-old journalist who went missing in Brice\u00f1o, Antioquia, has reignited conversations about the perilous state of journalism in Colombia. This […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":222736,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[697,6352,2715,3905,35447,21725,31247,7284,29239,17791],"class_list":["post-222735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mazagine","tag-case","tag-century","tag-colombia","tag-explains","tag-historian","tag-journalism","tag-mateo","tag-murdered","tag-perez","tag-timeline"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222735","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=222735"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222735\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":222737,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222735\/revisions\/222737"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/222736"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=222735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=222735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=222735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}