In the 1960s, journalist César Andreu Iglesias (1915–1976) would rise before dawn each day to draft the first ideas for his daily column Cosas de Aquí (“Local Matters”), published in the newspaper El Imparcial. This much-anticipated column covered a wide range of topics of the time, from culture and humor to economics, urban planning, and politics.
As recounted in the prologue of the book Periodismo vital (Vital Journalism, 2005) by his daughter, journalist Leila Andreu Cuevas, in his later years, the columnist typed on a manual typewriter with carbon ribbon and heavy hammer-style keys because an electric model couldn’t withstand the pounding from the few fingers he used to write. Speaking of her father, she described him as “a man with a social conscience who saw the press as a vehicle to touch, educate, and open the reader’s eyes, giving them the deserved sense of control over their destiny.”
I believe that vision of journalism is on the verge of extinction. Not because journalists no longer care, but because today’s readers often receive journalism passively, and especially because those in power no longer view the press as a check on democracy but as a threat to their political and economic interests.
For the past 33 years, Puerto Rico has officially observed National Journalist Day on July 31, honoring Andreu Iglesias’s birth and his many contributions to the field.
Freedom of speech — and of the press — as guaranteed by the Puerto Rico Constitution, protects our right to express ourselves freely and without fear of retaliation. For journalism, this means defending newsgathering and publishing processes. It includes shielding those who hold public figures accountable from baseless defamation claims, ensuring access to information held by the government, and protecting reporters from being forced to reveal confidential or anonymous sources. Freedom of speech is a fundamental human right and a necessary precondition for informed participation in civic life.
I am not a journalist. For nearly four years, I have proudly worked as a lawyer for the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo’s team of journalists. In that time, I’ve come to learn — and respect — the challenges of the profession. With increasing clarity, I understand how excellent journalism is done: investigative rigor, meticulous writing, and an ethical and civic commitment to informing the public about the systemic problems we face. And while I admire this team’s work, I can’t ignore the steady deterioration of the media landscape in Puerto Rico, the United States, and across the globe. Sensationalist and celebrity-driven media dominate, along with clickbait, excessive advertising blended into journalistic content, and of course, fake news — all of which fuel public distrust in the press and feed a constant appetite for news consumed around the clock, with no time to pause or reflect. On top of this, the focus of some stories — especially those involving elected officials — seem designed solely for public relations. Increasingly, our leaders show indifference to the truth — or worse, lie blatantly and attack those who scrutinize their actions.
Amid disinformation, political circus, and authoritarian tendencies, this media landscape has led many in society to distrust the press. Fewer people turn to journalism seeking the kind of meaning that Andreu Iglesias once envisioned gave them “a sense of control over their destiny.” How do we fight this? How do we overcome apathy? How do we strengthen vital journalism?
Our legal system, in both Puerto Rico and the United States, still protects — and must continue to protect — anyone who gathers and disseminates information with the intent to inform. When authoritarian regimes seek to silence and suppress dissent and censor those who question their actions, defending press freedom becomes more necessary than ever. We must educate with respect and empathy — and denounce with courage and integrity.
We cannot overlook the unjust expulsion of Associated Press reporters from the White House press room, or when Governor Jenniffer González dismisses or ridicules uncomfortable questions from La Fortaleza. We must continue to call out government propaganda and the media tours on entertainment programs by public officials who are simply seeking praise and self-congratulation. Let’s remember: politicians fear facing informed, data-driven criticism.
Nor can we ignore that U.S. commercial media outlets like ABC and CBS have yielded to pressure from President Donald Trump, reaching multimillion-dollar settlements that silence the voices of their journalists. These actions embolden extremist groups that see the press as “the enemy of the people.” It’s no surprise, then, that journalists have become targets of disinformation campaigns and are subjected to insults, threats, and online harassment.
We cannot remain indifferent when journalists covering the illegal deportation of immigrants are assaulted, nor can we withhold our solidarity as we witness the desperate plight of Palestinian journalists amid famine in Gaza. In times when informing the public has become a risky, courageous, and dignified act, we must strengthen the spaces where journalism continues to serve as a “vehicle to touch, educate, and open eyes,” as Andreu Iglesias envisioned. To raise awareness, speak out without fear, and contribute to the accountability so essential to this country’s democratic aspirations.
Andreu Iglesias’s vital journalism was always driven by his desire to help build a society that exposed the injustices around it and fought for greater social balance. He aspired to a journalism written “with grit and force,” marked by incisive critique but delivered in a simple, committed style. That remains the challenge we still face today when we exercise our freedom of speech.
This translation was generated with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and clarity.
