Protecting independent media under legal threat in El Salvador 

This impact story is part of our TrustLaw Awards series to celebrate the extraordinary pro bono projects undertaken by legal teams to support NGOs, social enterprises and independent media with the support of TrustLaw.    

SembraMedia used pro bono legal advice from Consortium Legal; BLP and Sánchez-Labrador & López Martínez (SLLM) to train over 25 newsrooms in El Salvador on Foreign Agent Laws, helping independent media assess legal risks and protect their operations.

Journalists across Central America are operating in increasingly shrinking civic space. As democratic institutions erode throughout the region, governments are increasingly weaponising the law to intimidate journalists and disrupt newsroom operations. As a result, independent reporting is becoming harder and riskier and, in some cases, forcing journalists and media outlets into exile so that they can continue to work safely. 

In May 2025, El Salvador’s government enacted a Foreign Agent Law. This may look like an administrative measure on paper; however, these laws introduce significant legal and tax burdens which are specifically designed to target organisations that rely on international funding. The law’s intentionally vague nature leaves local newsrooms guessing about what they can and can’t do, in addition to the severe sanctions imposed. 

For small independent newsrooms with limited resources, this legal ambiguity becomes a significant threat, as it impacts budget planning, affects sustainability, and can expose journalists to severe legal sanctions. Therefore, legal awareness is a critical line of defence for journalists and newsrooms operating in hostile environments. 

Legal knowledge as a frontline defence 

SembraMedia, an organisation that supports journalists to keep providing information to their audiences, was connected through TrustLaw with pro bono lawyers who advised on the scope and application of El Salvador’s new Foreign Agent Law. With support from the Central American Journalists Network, SembraMedia delivered practical legal training to over 25 newsrooms. Legal experts from El Salvador, Mexico and Costa Rica ran two online clinics: 

• Navigating the law in El Salvador: During the first session, pro bono lawyers from Consortium Legal broke down the fine print of the Foreign Agent Law, explaining tax obligations and providing practical advice to reduce non-compliance risk

• Alternatives to continue operations: The second session focused on exile and survival strategies to ensure the continuation of journalistic work. Pro bono lawyers from BLP in Costa Rica and from Sánchez-Labrador & López Martínez (SLLM) in Mexico shared key legal considerations around employment and tax matters for receiving funds and hiring staff abroad. 

Equipping journalists to navigate legal threats 

The newsrooms gained a clearer understanding of the legal and regulatory landscape, helping them make more informed decisions. For some, it meant learning how to safely comply with local laws; for others, it provided a roadmap to relocate and continue reporting safely from abroad. This helped reduce vulnerabilities and exposure to risk. 

“The legal support provided through TrustLaw enabled an analysis of potential risk scenarios arising from the enactment of the Foreign Agent Law. It helped guide and advise our management in making an informed decision on the handling of foreign income and payments to collaborators.” Participating newsroom 

In parallel, this initiative helped SembraMedia strengthen its own emergency response, consolidating tools and knowledge to support its network in increasingly complex environments. 

“The collaboration between organisations is key to effectively responding to the challenges faced by independent media. Through joint work with regional partners, we were able to provide concrete tools that strengthen decision-making, resilience, and the defence of freedom of expression in Latin America.” María Eugenia Alvarez, General Manager, SembraMedia

“Working with TrustLaw gave us the support and confidence to respond quickly to a complex regional challenge. Their network helped us turn legal expertise into a collaborative space where independent media could ask questions, share concerns, and access guidance they could trust.” Naimid Cirelli, Operations Director, SembraMedia

Safeguarding independent media 

When laws are weaponised against journalists, audiences have reduced access to credible and accurate information, weakening public trust in democratic institutions. Equipping independent newsrooms with legal clarity is key to ensuring they can continue to carry out their democratic function. 

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