Mexico Is A Dangerous Place For Journalists

By Lauren Gilger
Published: Monday, March 25, 2019 - 3:28pm
Updated: Monday, March 25, 2019 - 3:46pm

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Murdered Sonoran Reporter
Murphy Woodhouse/KJZZ
Protesting reporters stand in front of the Government Palace in Hermosillo to demand resolution of Santiago Barroso's murder, as well as broader protection of press freedom, in March 2019.

In the past 10 years, 28 journalists have been killed in Mexico as retaliation for their work, that’s according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Jan-Albert Hootsen, with the CPJ, says Mexico has the highest rate of crime against journalists in the Western Hemisphere.

He says there tends to be a high degree of impunity in crimes against the press.

“All in all, it’s above 95 percent, meaning that the vast majority of crimes go unpunished, which obviously incentives people who want to commit crimes against reporters or against news outlets — because basically they don’t get caught if they do.”

Hootsen talked with The Show about why journalists have less protection.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The interview's introduction mentions the death of journalist Santiago Barroso. Mexican authorities have said the motive in Barroso's killing had to do with personal relationships, not his work as a radio host and columnist.

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