UNESCO is the lead UN Agency for promoting freedom of expression and safety of journalists as part of its mandate to “promote the free flow of ideas by word and image”.
Understanding Journalist Safety in Costa Rica
On the whole, journalists in Costa Rica appear to be faring better than their counterparts in most other countries in the Latin American region. There are, however, emerging areas of concern. While this research found that it is not common for journalists to be attacked physically in Costa Rica, nearly half reported that hateful speech toward journalists appears to be a problem. The level of concern about well-being among journalists amid an environment in which the president of the country feels emboldened to verbally attack journalists and the figures reported by Reporters Without Borders and other monitoring organizations point to a decline in press freedoms. These findings should cause concern, given Costa Rica’s history of being a leader in press freedom and other civil rights in the region and the world. Given the role of Costa Rica as a safe haven for exiled journalists in the region, it should be noted that diminishing press freedoms could have negative consequences for local as well as exiled journalists. Eroding political and economic conditions in Costa Rica could potentially lead to censorship of critical reporting about the region. Further, the Chaves administration has been found liable in numerous cases at the Constitutional Court for denying access to information to journalists and verbally attacking journalists and media outlets. This administration also has used public funding to foment a network of online influencers and social media accounts that exert pressure on journalists who are critical of the government (Freedom House, 2023; Herrera, 2024). For all these reasons, there is a demonstrated need for continued research about the conditions and the environment for all journalists in Costa Rica.
Safety Dimensions
This radar chart displays how the country performs across all four safety dimensions, revealing areas of strength and concern.
Gender Safety Gap
This comparison highlights differences in safety experiences between male and female journalists, revealing potential gender-based disparities.
Physical Safety
The physical dimension carries 50% weight in the safety index. Read the methodology in full.
Journalist Killings (35% weight in physical dimension)
This figure represents the total number of journalist killings in Costa Rica between 2016 and 2024.
Data sourced from UNESCO Observatory of Killed Journalists.
Note: This indicator carries 35% of the weight within the physical dimension of the Safety Index, making it the most significant factor in this category.
Responses to: "I am concerned about my physical wellbeing" (20% weight in physical dimension)
Responses to: "In the last five years, how often have you experienced any of the following actions related to your work as a journalist?"
Arrests, detentions or imprisonment (15% weight in physical dimension)
Sexual assault or sexual harassment (15% weight in physical dimension)
Other physical attacks (15% weight in physical dimension)
Abductions (did not contribute to calculation)
Office raids or seizures or damage of equipment (did not contribute to calculation)
Being required to work in an environment where COVID-19 had easily spread (did not contribute to calculation)
Psychological Safety
The psychological dimension carries 25% weight in the safety index. Read the methodology in full.
Responses to: "I am concerned about my emotional wellbeing" (20% weight in psychological dimension)
Responses to: "In the last five years, how often have you experienced any of the following actions related to your work as a journalist?"
Demeaning or hateful speech directed at you (16% weight in psychological dimension)
Public discrediting of your work (16% weight in psychological dimension)
Legal actions against you because of your work (16% weight in psychological dimension)
Stalking (16% weight in psychological dimension)
Other threats or intimidation directed at you (16% weight in psychological dimension)
Coercion (did not contribute to calculation)
Questioning of your personal morality (did not contribute to calculation)
Workplace bullying (did not contribute to calculation)
Intimidation that targets your family or close associates (did not contribute to calculation)
Digital Safety
The digital dimension carries 12.5% weight in the safety index. Read the methodology in full.
Responses to: "In the last five years, how often have you experienced any of the following actions related to your work as a journalist?"
Surveillance (50% weight in digital dimension)
Hacking or blocking of social media accounts or websites (50% weight in digital dimension)
Others using your byline for fabricated or manipulated stories (did not contribute to calculation)
Others disseminating your personal information (did not contribute to calculation)
Financial Safety
The financial dimension carries 12.5% weight in the safety index. Read the methodology in full.
Responses to: "I am worried about losing my job in journalism within the next 12 months" (20% weight in financial dimension)
Responses to: "Which of the following categories best describes your current working situation as a journalist?" (20% weight in financial dimension)
Responses to "Approximately what percentage of your overall work-related income comes from your work as a journalist?" (20% weight in financial dimension)
Responses to: "How many hours a week on average do you work as a journalist?" (20% weight in financial dimension)
Responses to: "In which of the following categories does your salary as a journalist fall?" (20% weight in financial dimension)
Demographics
This section contains demographic information about survey respondents from Costa Rica.
Coming soon
Demographic information about survey respondents will be available in a future update.