Press freedom summit urges Mexico to reform journalist protections

Mexico|Impunity

This page is also available in Español

This article is more than 5 years old

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

4 July 2019

1 minute read

Members of the press hold images of colleagues during a protest against the murder or disappearance of more than 140 journalists and photojournalists in Mexico since 2000, in front of the National Palace in Mexico City, 1 June 2018, YURI CORTEZ/AFP/Getty Images

On June 18, more than 400 people converged in Mexico City for CPJ's Mexico Press Freedom Summit. Energized by a sense that the country is at a point of profound political change under the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the conference delved into the threats for Mexican journalists.

The following is an excerpt of a 2 July 2019 CPJ blog post by Jan-Albert Hootsen/CPJ Mexico Representative.

On June 18, more than 400 people converged in Mexico City for CPJ’s Mexico Press Freedom Summit. Energized by a sense that the country is at a point of profound political change under the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the conference delved into the threats for Mexican journalists.Journalists called for the government to change its rhetoric against the press, to reform federal spending on advertisement, and to commit to transparency in rooting out illegal surveillance. The most urgent issues however, were the cycle of violence and impunity – Mexico has long been the deadliest country for the media in the Western Hemisphere – and the weakness of institutions created to protect journalists and investigate crimes against the press.

The overall feeling was one of profound crisis and also unprecedented opportunity as President López Obrador assumed office in December with an absolute majority for his Movement for National Regeneration (Morena) in Congress. But many also believe this window of opportunity is closing, and have started to express doubts about whether the president will keep to commitments made during his election campaign.

Read the full blog post on CPJ’s site.

Recent articles in Mexico

View all articles

Journalists killed in Mexico, Colombia, and Peru, and new crackdowns in Venezuela

Americas | Attacks

January in the Americas: A free expression and civic space round-up produced by IFEX’s Regional Editor Laura Vidal, based on IFEX member reports and news from the region.

31 January 2025
IFEX Regional Briefs

Mexican journalist under federal protection shot dead

Mexico | Attacks

Guerrero, deputy editor of Facebook-based news outlet “Global Mexico”, regularly published news stories about crime, violence, and politics in México state.

27 January 2025

Mexican journalist Paty Bunbury shot dead in Colima, 2nd killed in less than 24 hours

Mexico | Attacks

Ramírez was the second Mexican journalist killed in less than 24 hours following the 29 October shooting of Mauricio Cruz Solís.

4 November 2024