Colombian Media Association marks 65 years of press freedom defense

The Asociación Colombiana de Medios de Información (AMI) is commemorating 65 years since its founding. Originally established in 1961 as ANDIARIOS, the organization was created by managers from newspapers such as El Espectador, El Siglo, and La República to protect journalists and media outlets from censorship and political persecution.

The association’s origins are rooted in a period of intense repression during the dictatorship of General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, which included the assassination of journalists and the forced closure of major newspapers like El Tiempo.

Today, AMI continues to address modern challenges facing the industry, including economic difficulties, technological shifts driven by artificial intelligence, and evolving digital platforms. Executive Director Werner Zitzmann emphasized that press freedom remains a hard-won achievement that must be defended through rigorous and responsible journalism.