Thread: Journalists in Mexico scared into censorship

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Journalists in Mexico scared into censorship

11:42 PM CST on Tuesday, February 7, 2006
From Wire Reports


NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico – Mexican journalists whose colleagues have turned up missing or dead after covering drug violence say they are censoring themselves out of fear of being killed.

Meeting here this month, some newspaper editors said they've refrained from aggressively reporting on organized crime because drug gangs intimidate them with warnings not to print certain crimes, names and photos.

The Inter-American Press Association, the conference sponsor, wants federal authorities to investigate the killing of journalists. State officials handle such cases unless they are clearly linked to drug trafficking.

Reporters said the lack of protection by Mexican officials is the leading reason they are censoring their stories.

"There isn't much [reporters] can do when there is a lack of rule of law, and individual guarantees are practically suspended," said Roberto Rock, editor of Mexico City's El Universal newspaper.

Despite the risks, El Universal publisher Juan Francisco Ealy Ortiz, who attended the meeting with bodyguards, advocated more coverage.

"The biggest enemy is silence," he said.

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Newspaper editor said he will almost completely stop covering drug gangs


By Jorge Vargas
ASSOCIATED PRESS

4:44 p.m. February 7, 2006

NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico – The owner of Nuevo Laredo's El Manana newspaper said he will almost completely stop covering drug gangs after the company officers were attacked by assailants who sprayed the reception with bullets and lobbed a grenade at the building.
“Zero investigations into the narco,â€