Two “Proceso” magazine journalists who were covering the election are dismissed

(CENCOS/IFEX) – The Mexican Network for the Protection of Journalists and the Media expressed its concern over the dismissal of journalists Francisco Ortiz Pinchetti and Francisco Ortiz Pardo, of the “Proceso” weekly magazine, one of the most influential political publications in Mexico. “Proceso” was founded in 1976 by a group of journalists from the “Excélsior” […]

(CENCOS/IFEX) – The Mexican Network for the Protection of Journalists and the Media expressed its concern over the dismissal of journalists Francisco Ortiz Pinchetti and Francisco Ortiz Pardo, of the “Proceso” weekly magazine, one of the most influential political publications in Mexico. “Proceso” was founded in 1976 by a group of journalists from the “Excélsior” daily, headed by Julio Scherer García, at a time when the government of Luis Echeverría Álvarez had tried to severely restrict their freedom of expression.

Ortiz Pinchetti was a founding member of “Proceso” and worked for the magazine for twenty-four years, specialising in political issues, particularly the electoral process. Ortiz Pardo had twelve years seniority. During the previous year, he had extensively covered the conflict concerning the National Autonomous University of Mexico (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México, UNAM). Both journalists were currently assigned to cover the electoral campaign of Vicente Fox, presidential candidate for the opposition party Alianza por el Cambio (Alliance for Change). Their material that was censored was precisely part of their coverage of this campaign.

The following is the Mexican Network’s letter to the director of “Proceso”:

RAFAEL RODRÍGUEZ CASTAÑEDA
DIRECTOR

PROCESO MAGAZINE

We are aware that on 6 June, journalists Francisco Ortiz Pinchetti and Francisco Ortiz Pardo were dismissed from Proceso magazine, for having insisted on having their fundamental rights respected.

This matter apparently originated in a letter published in the magazine one week earlier, referring to changes made by the editorial board to a report titled “Fox ya domo al PAN” (Fox has already tamed the PAN), (published in “Proceso” issue 1229). The editorial board acknowledged having made the changes to the report and the magazine agreed to publish a letter with the journalists’ complaint (“Proceso” issue 1230), and the editors’ apologies.

Nevertheless, the following week the journalists were fired for having insisted on their fundamental right to have their work respected, after they noted that changes had been made to the report without their consent, effectively changing the meaning of the original text, though the report was published under their names.

Although this may be a common practice in a number of media, it nevertheless represents a lack of respect for the journalists’ work, and something that could be avoided if the media had an adequate internal regulation system.

The Mexican Network for the Protection of Journalists and the Media, an organisation made up a number of labour, academic and human rights associations working for the protection of the freedom to information in Mexico, is extremely concerned about this incident.

The Mexican Network for the Protection of Journalists and the Media respects the various medias’ internal decisions, but is concerned that the motive and process of a dismissal, such as the one in question, could constitute an attack against journalists’ rights to carry out their profession.

We believe that in a country that is on the path to democracy, and in a medium that has fought, like no others have, towards this end, one should not have to be confronted with situations such as the one that currently concerns us, particularly under the current climate of political agitation, when upholding the right to information is of crucial importance.

Recommended Action

Appeals To

Rafael Rodríguez Castañeda
Director of Proceso Magazine
E-mail: rrc@proceso.com.mx

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.