Journalist Jose Vinces Shot in Ambush in El Oro — CPJ Demands Investigation

Another Ecuadorian journalist has been attacked — this time in a carefully planned ambush that underscores the extreme dangers facing the press in one of Latin America's most dangerous countries for media workers.

What Happened

Jose Vinces, founder and director of Vinces TV, a local news outlet in El Oro province on Ecuador's southern coast, was shot by two gunmen at a cemetery after being lured there by what turned out to be a fabricated news tip.

According to reporting by JURIST and confirmed by press freedom organizations, Vinces received a tip about an alleged story at the cemetery, and when he arrived, two armed men were waiting. They opened fire, striking Vinces multiple times. He survived the attack and was transported to a hospital, where he received emergency treatment.

The ambush bore the hallmarks of a targeted assassination attempt — not a robbery or random act of violence. The use of a false tip to draw the journalist to a specific, isolated location indicates planning and intent to kill.

The Press Freedom Crisis

The attack on Vinces is not an isolated incident. Ecuador has become one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, driven by the same narcotrafficking violence that has upended the country's broader security landscape.

Key statistics:

• 168 attacks on journalists were documented in Ecuador in 2025 alone — including physical assaults, death threats, kidnappings, and digital attacks
• In January 2024, television journalist Efrain Ruales was assassinated in Guayaquil, a killing that shocked the nation
• Later that same month, armed gunmen stormed the TC Television studio in Guayaquil during a live broadcast, holding journalists and staff hostage — an event broadcast live around the world
• Local and regional journalists covering crime, corruption, and narcotrafficking in coastal provinces face the greatest risk. National outlets in Quito have more resources for security, but provincial reporters often work without protection

CPJ Response

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the international press freedom organization based in New York, has condemned the attack on Vinces and demanded that Ecuadorian authorities conduct a thorough investigation to identify and prosecute the perpetrators.

CPJ noted that attacks on journalists in Ecuador frequently go unpunished, creating a climate of impunity that emboldens further violence. The organization has called on the Noboa administration to prioritize journalist safety as part of its broader security strategy.

Why El Oro

El Oro province, where the attack occurred, sits on Ecuador's border with Peru and has become a significant corridor for narcotrafficking and organized crime. The province is currently under a curfew as part of the national state of emergency. Local journalists in El Oro who cover crime and cartel activity operate under constant threat.

Vinces TV, as a local outlet, was likely covering stories that more powerful criminal actors preferred to keep out of the press. This pattern — local journalists targeted for covering local criminal activity — is consistent across Latin America's press freedom crises.

What This Means for Expats

• The attack on Vinces is a symptom of Ecuador's broader security crisis, not a standalone event. The same criminal organizations that target journalists also engage in extortion, kidnapping, and violence that can affect anyone in their areas of operation
• If you consume Ecuadorian news, understand that the information reaching you has been filtered by an environment of extreme risk for reporters. Stories about narcotrafficking, organized crime, and corruption in coastal provinces may be underreported because journalists fear for their lives
• The curfew in El Oro and other coastal provinces exists precisely because of the level of criminal activity that makes the region dangerous for everyone — journalists, residents, and visitors alike
• Press freedom is a leading indicator of broader rule-of-law conditions. When journalists cannot safely report on crime and corruption, accountability declines and criminal organizations gain further power. This dynamic directly affects the living conditions for everyone in Ecuador, including expats
• If you live in or travel to coastal provinces, the risks that journalists face from organized crime are a reminder to exercise heightened caution and avoid situations that could put you in proximity to criminal activity

Source: JURIST