''Siglo Veintiuno'' () or stylized ''Siglo XXI'' is a

Guatemala Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast by Belize, to the east by Honduras, and to the southeast by El Salvador. It is hydrologically b ...

n daily newspaper. Founded in 1990 by José Rubén Zamora, the paper earned a reputation for independent, high-risk reporting. In 1995, its staff won the International Press Freedom Awards of the

Committee to Protect Journalists The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in New York City, with correspondents around the world. CPJ promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists. The '' American Journalism ...

and Zamora has won several individual awards for his work with the paper.

History

Founded in 1990 by José Rubén Zamora, the paper advocated judicial and tax reforms and reported on dangerous subjects including narcotics smuggling, human rights issues, guerrilla groups, and corruption in the government of President Jorge Serrano. As a result, Zamora and the staff received death threats and were subject to physical attacks. Three years later, Guatemala saw a constitutional crisis, in which Serrano suspended the constitution and dissolved

Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...

. He also instituted press censorship, surrounding the ''Siglo Veintiuno'' offices with national police forces. During this period, Zamora satirized the censorship by renaming the paper ''Siglo Catorce'' ("14th Century") and running stories covered in solid blocks of ink; he also faxed uncensored versions of the stories to newspapers in neighboring countries. The

International Press Institute International Press Institute (IPI) is a global organisation dedicated to the promotion and protection of press freedom and the improvement of journalism practices. The institution was founded by 34 editors from 15 countries at Columbia Universit ...

credits this clandestine reporting with contributing to Serrano's condemnation by the international community and his eventual flight from the country. Zamora and other staff members were attacked several times in connection with their reporting. In 1995, Zamora's car was driven off the road by two people who threatened to kill him for publishing allegations in ''Siglo Veintiuno'' that the military of Guatemala had links to organized crime. In May 1996, attackers drove past his parked car, throwing two grenades at it; Zamora was unhurt. In May 1996, Zamora left the paper following disagreements with its board of directors and founded a new paper, '' El Periódico''.

Recognition

In 1995, Zamora and the ''Siglo Veintiuno'' staff won International Press Freedom Awards from the

, which recognize courage in defending press freedom despite facing attacks, threats, or imprisonment. In the same year, Zamora won the

Maria Moors Cabot Prize The Maria Moors Cabot Prizes are the oldest international awards in the field of journalism. They are presented each fall by the Trustees of Columbia University to journalists in the Western hemisphere who are viewed as having made a significant c ...

from

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

"for promoting press freedom and inter-American understanding". In 2000, he was named one of 50

World Press Freedom Heroes International Press Institute World Press Freedom Heroes are individuals who have been recognized by the Vienna-based International Press Institute for "significant contributions to the maintenance of press freedom and freedom of expression" and " ...

of the 20th century by the

. The citation stated that "Zamora and Siglo Veintiuno were in the forefront of a civilian resistance that forced President Jorge Serrano Elias to relinquish his post after he attempted to seize dictatorial power in 1993."

References

External links

* {{Footer CPJ International Press Freedom Award laureates Newspapers published in Guatemala Newspapers established in 1990

History

Recognition

See also

References

External links