In 2015 Peñaranda obtained the Maria Moors Cabot for outstanding reporting in Latin America prize, granted by Columbia University.
The jury said that he "is one of the most accomplished journalists in Bolivia today" and that "his strong stance against abuse of power and media concentration by the Morales regime, particularly in his latest book "Control Remoto," earned him relentless persecution by the government, which called him a traitor and a spy.
Peñaranda is a former Associated Press and ANSA correspondent in his country and has also worked as a freelance contributor for the Los Angeles Times and a number of Latin American newspapers.
Peñaranda told the committee to Protect Journalists that Página Siete had accurately reported on Morales's remarks saying, "This is a lawsuit that makes no sense, and is only designed to intimidate independent media and limit freedom of expression in the country."
[2] The former editor of Página Siete lead during 2014 a subregional network that defends freedom of expression, called GALI(Grupo Andino de Libertades Informativas).