José Rubén Zamora
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

José Rubén Zamora Marroquín (born August 19, 1956) is an industrial engineer, entrepreneur, and the founder of three
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 newspapers: ''
Siglo Veintiuno ''Siglo Veintiuno'' () or stylized ''Siglo XXI'' is a Guatemalan 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 ...
'' ("21st Century") in 1990, '' El Periódico'' ("The Newspaper") in 1996, and '' Nuestro Diario'' ("Our Daily") in 1998. He has been threatened and attacked on several occasions for his work, including being held hostage in his home in 2003 and being kidnapped and beaten in 2008. Zamora has received numerous international prizes and distinctions. He was awarded 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 ...
in 1994, an International Press Freedom Award from 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 ...
in 1994, was named as 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
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 ...
in 2000, and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation awarded him its International Journalism Award in 2003. On July 29, 2022, Zamora was arrested on charges of
money laundering Money laundering is the process of illegally concealing the origin of money obtained from illicit activities (often known as dirty money) such as drug trafficking, sex work, terrorism, corruption, and embezzlement, and converting the funds i ...
that are widely seen as a retaliation against his coverage of corruption in the Guatemalan government. In 2023, he was sentenced to 6 years in prison. That conviction was overturned by another court, and a new trial ordered. A court ordered his release on May 15, 2024, with the judge ruling that he was not considered a flight risk or a threat to the investigation. The
Media Development Investment Fund Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF), formerly Media Development Loan Fund, is a New York-registered non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and mission-driven investment fund that provides low-cost financing to independent news and information bus ...
, which had invested in one of his newspapers, said it welcomed his conditional release but called on the judiciary to "deliver timely justice in the other pending case against him."


Education and early career

Zamora began working as a reporter in ''La Hora'' ("The Hour"), a newspaper owned by his family, when he was 17. He earned degrees in
industrial engineering Industrial engineering (IE) is concerned with the design, improvement and installation of integrated systems of people, materials, information, equipment and energy. It draws upon specialized knowledge and skill in the mathematical, physical, an ...
and business administration and in 1986 founded ANC, a documentary and news production company in 1985.


''Siglo Veintiuno''

In 1990, Zamora founded his first newspaper, ''Siglo Veintiuno''. 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 political science, a constitutional crisis is a problem or conflict in the function of a government that the constitution, political constitution or other fundamental governing law is perceived to be unable to resolve. There are several variat ...
, 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 his 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. In May 1996, Zamora left the paper following disagreements with its board of directors.


''El Periódico''

Zamora's new newspaper, ''El Periódico'', launched on November 6, 1996, funded by the donations of 125 citizens who supported his stand on press freedom. One year later, it was bought by the owners of '' Prensa Libre'', Guatemala's best-selling newspaper. In 2001, the ''Periódico'' offices were attacked by a group of fifty protesters after reporting on alleged corruption in the staff of Communications Minister
Luis Rabbé Luis Armando Rabbé Tejada (born 26 May 1956) is a Guatemalan politician and media entrepreneur. He was President of the Congress of Guatemala between 14 January 2015 and 14 January 2016. Rabbé was elected to the Congress of Guatemala in the 2 ...
. The crowd attempted to force the building's doors and set it on fire, and Zamora was burned in
effigy An effigy is a sculptural representation, often life-size, of a specific person or a prototypical figure. The term is mostly used for the makeshift dummies used for symbolic punishment in political protests and for the figures burned in certain ...
. According to 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 ...
, police took more than forty minutes to respond and made no arrests. The newspaper conducted a lengthy investigation into links between the government of President
Alfonso Portillo Alfonso Antonio Portillo Cabrera (born 24 September 1951) is a Guatemalan politician who served as the 45th president of Guatemala from 2000 to 2004. He took office on 14 January 2000, representing the Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG), the p ...
and organized crime, the results of which were published in November 2002. The government then sent auditors to the ''Periódico'' offices for 40 days, withdrawing them only after a complaint by the
World Association of Newspapers The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization made up of 76 national newspaper associations, 12 news agencies, 10 regional press organisations, and many individual newspaper e ...
(WAN).


Attacks on Zamora

Zamora has been attacked several times in connection with his reporting. In 1995, his 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 because there was no one in the car at the time. In June 2003, Zamora and his family were held hostage in their home for hours by a group of eleven men and one woman. The attackers beat Zamora's children and forced him to strip and kneel at gunpoint. According to Zamora, one of the gang stated: "If you value your children stop bothering the people above. I don't know who you've annoyed high up the ladder, but we have orders that someone up high despises you. Whatever you do, do not report this." The US government condemned the attack and called for an investigation. WAN also issued a statement on Zamora's behalf following the attack, calling on President Portillo to bring the attackers to justice and protect the safety of his nation's journalists. Portillo then unexpectedly visited Zamora to offer assistance, including allowing him access to a photographic database of government and armed forces members. In late January 2004, Zamora published the names and photographs of the men and woman he alleged to be his attackers in ''El Periódico''; they included a senior member of Portillo's staff, an employee of the
Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general (: attorneys general) or attorney-general (AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enf ...
, and a counter-intelligence specialist. Two years later, former member of the military Eduviges Funes was later sentenced to sixteen years' imprisonment for his role in the attack. Another former soldier, Belter Álvarez, was acquitted. On August 20, 2008, Zamora was kidnapped and beaten after a dinner with friends in
Guatemala City Guatemala City (, also known colloquially by the nickname Guate), is the Capital city, national capital and largest city of the Guatemala, Republic of Guatemala. It is also the Municipalities of Guatemala, municipal capital of the Guatemala Depa ...
, and was left unconscious and nearly naked in
Chimaltenango Chimaltenango is a city in Guatemala with a population of 96,985 (2018 census).Citypopulation.de
Population of ...
, away.


Awards

In 1995, Zamora and the ''Siglo Veintiuno'' staff won International Press Freedom Awards from 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 ...
, which recognize courage in defending press freedom despite facing attacks, threats, or imprisonment. In the same year, he won the Maria Moors Cabot Prize from Columbia University "for promoting press freedom and inter-American understanding". In 2000, he was named one of 50 World Press Freedom Heroes of the 20th century by the International Press Institute. 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." The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation awarded him its International Journalism Award in 2003. In Guatemala, he was recognized as a Distinguished Engineer by the Professional College of Engineers in 2014 and as an Illustrious Graduate of the
Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala The Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC, ''University of San Carlos of Guatemala'') is the largest and oldest university of Guatemala; it is also the fourth founded in the Americas. Established in the Kingdom of Guatemala during the Spa ...
in 2015. He was also awarded the Myrna Mack Prize for the defense of human rights by the Guatemalan
Human Rights Commission A human rights commission, also known as a human relations commission, is a body set up to investigate, promote or protect human rights. The term may refer to international, national or subnational bodies set up for this purpose, such as nationa ...
in 2015.


Arrest

On July 29, 2022, Zamora was arrested on charges of money laundering. However, his arrest was widely seen as a retaliation against his coverage of corrupt practices by the Guatemalan government under president
Alejandro Giammattei Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei Falla (; born 9 March 1956) is a Guatemalan politician who was the 51st president of Guatemala from 2020 to 2024. He is a former director of the Guatemalan penitentiary system and participated in Guatemala's presid ...
and was criticized locally and internationally by journalists, freedom of the press activists, political opposition in Guatemala, human rights NGOs, the business sector, the United States, Canada, and the European Union. He was sentenced to 6 years in prison on June 15, 2023. Zamora denied all charges and alleged that he had been given no rights to a defense. On May 15, 2024, Judge Verónica Ruiz of the Ninth Sentencing Court granted Zamora house arrest after Ruiz found little risk of Zamora fleeing the country or obstructing the investigation against him. He was moved to his residence on 18 October. However, his house arrest was reversed following an appeal by prosecutors in November. In March 2025, Zamora was returned to prison.


See also

* Grigorijs Ņemcovs - Latvian assassinated newspaper owner


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zamora, Jose Ruben Guatemalan democracy activists Guatemalan journalists Guatemalan male journalists 1956 births Living people 20th-century Guatemalan people 21st-century Guatemalan people