Zamora founded el Periódico as a bastion of independent journalism in Central America, consistently targeting high-level government malfeasance. His reporting drew intense state retaliation, culminating in a 2022 arrest and subsequent 2023 conviction on money laundering charges—a legal action widely condemned by international observers as a politically motivated attempt to silence dissent. Since his detention, the state has actively dismantled his support network, issuing arrest warrants for his legal counsel and forcing his publication to cease operations, which ultimately sent much of his reporting staff into exile.

The National Press Club selection reflects a broader alarm regarding the weaponization of state institutions against journalists throughout Latin America. For the organization, Zamora serves as a symbol of the high personal cost of investigative work in environments where power is shielded by intimidation. National Press Club president Mark Schoeff Jr. emphasized that the journalist’s struggle serves as a visceral reminder of the risks involved in holding authority to account. Zamora’s son, José Carlos Zamora, is scheduled to accept the award on his father's behalf during the Fourth Estate Award Gala in Washington, D.C., on November 12.