TERM PAPER #4

 

MEXICO 

Mexico is being named "one of the world's deadliest countries for journalists". Mexico was the deadliest country in the world for the media in 2020, accounting for one-sixth of journalists killed this year, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, which investigates attacks against the press globally. Five journalists were killed in Mexico in 2020, bringing the death toll to at least 120 since 2000. Last month, three journalists were shot dead within 10 days. This year’s death count means that Mexican journalists are now more likely to be killed than those covering wars – the first time the country has held this inglorious top ranking since CPJ began tracking violence against the media in 1992. “Mexico is suffering a multi-faceted crisis about press freedom. The situation has been getting steadily worse over the past few years, culminating in the country’s abysmal status as the world’s deadliest for reporters in 2020. The crisis principally stems from impunity,” said Jan-Albert Hootsen, CPJ’s Mexico representative. Overall, at least 90% of journalist killings remain unsolved.

Mexico has long been the most dangerous place for journalists outside an official war zone, with those investigating the nexus between organized crime and corrupt officials most frequently targeted. Attacks have spiraled amid unprecedented public hostility towards the media by the president who has frequently used daily press briefings to denigrate independent journalists and activists. The government has also weakened protection for journalists under threat and cut funds for investigations. Two of the journalists killed these years were under supposed federal protection after having reported death threats linked to their work. In both cases, their assigned bodyguards also died in the attacks.

“Criminal groups often collude with local authorities which leads to journalists being not only targeted, but also not finding any help from the authorities that are supposed to protect them. The federal government had done very little to stop the violence. The result is impunity in the vast majority of crimes against the press, which fuels and incentivizes more attacks against journalists,” said Hootsen. 

It is important to know that Mexico is not the only country that is suffering from journalists being killed. After Mexico, Afghanistan and the Philippines had the most retaliatory killings. In conclusion, it is important to be educated on the dangers and wrongness of journalists getting killed for simply doing their job.

mexico world's deadliest country for journalists, new report finds | Mexico | The Guardian