Founded in 1880, Diario de Centro América is a newspaper that brings together two distinct types of content: news aimed at the general public—consistently casting the government in a positive light—and official documents of a predominantly legal nature, including laws, regulations, and government decrees.
Media assets
Publishing: Diario de Centro América
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
The newspaper is overseen by the Ministry of Interior, which sets the parameters for its functioning. As per details furnished by the ministry, it holds the reins in appointing the director and editorial team of the publication.
Source of funding and budget
In 2020, the Diario de Centro América drew the majority of its funding—amounting to GTQ 69.8m (US$ 9m)—from the state budget, as stated in the most recent annual report by the company. Additionally, the newspaper’s role in publishing various official documents from state authorities beyond the central government is underwritten by the respective institutions, whose contributions further bolster the outlet’s financial coffers.
Editorial independence
The government exerts full authority over the editorial content of Diario de Centro América. An informal analysis led by Media and Journalism Research Center’s regional experts in April 2023 unveiled a pronounced bias in the newspaper’s reporting, which overwhelmingly aims to bolster the image of the president and his administration.
A significant share of its stories spotlights the government’s virtues, with news articles and opinion pieces heavily concentrated on showcasing the administration’s alleged “successes.” Despite the newspaper operating under a defined set of rules, developed by the Ministry of Interior, none of these regulations are intended to safeguard its editorial independence.
Furthermore, no domestic laws, independent evaluations, or oversight mechanisms have been identified to authenticate the publication’s neutrality or journalistic autonomy.
April 2025