Journalist killings continue unabated in Mexico
Mexico|Impunity
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
2 September 2022
8 minute read
This statement was originally published on cpj.org on 30 August 2022.
By Natalie Southwick and Carlos Martínez de la Serna
At least 13 journalists have been killed in Mexico in the first eight months of 2022, the highest number the Committee to Protect Journalists has ever documented in the country in a single year. In a country characterized by corruption and organized crime, it’s unclear how many were targeted directly because of their work. CPJ research has confirmed a journalism-related motive for at least three of the deaths and continues to investigate the others. Members of the press in Mexico are confronting a crisis that is exceptional outside of war zones. Amid a cycle of violence and impunity, news coverage in some regions is on the brink of disappearing.
Here is CPJ’s briefing on the ongoing press freedom crisis in Mexico.
Why is the rate of journalist killings in Mexico so high in 2022?
As of August 30, 2022, at least three journalists have been murdered in retaliation for their reporting, and CPJ is investigating another 10 killings to determine the motive. For each of the last six years, CPJ has documented at least nine journalists killed in Mexico.
The August 22 killing of Fredid Román, founder of the La Realidad newspaper and a columnist for the Vértice de Chilpancingo newspaper, is the latest example of the deadly results of the Mexican government’s failure to make the country safe for reporters.
Determining the motive in these killings is often difficult for both reporters and press freedom organizations. While investigating attacks on journalists, CPJ has found that authorities are often slow to respond, fail to apply best practices to evidence gathering, and appear to prioritize presenting suspects as soon as possible, rather than conducting a thorough investigation. Moreover, it is sometimes difficult to determine whether official investigations are trustworthy, as authorities allegedly collude with criminal gangs or are involved in the attacks themselves.
More:
https://ifex.org/journalist-killings-continue-unabated-in-mexico/