During the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, an attack against the press in Mexico was recorded every 14 hours, that is, an increase of 62% compared to the previous six-year term, the organization Article 19 warned.
In the presentation of his six-year report on freedom of expression and information, Leopoldo Maldonado, regional director of the organization, pointed out that from December 1, 2018, to March 31, 2024, 3,408 attacks against the press were recorded.
That amount is equivalent to an attack every 14 hours, including the murders of at least 46 journalists and four disappearances, he said.
They only investigate 31% of the murders of journalists
However, the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) only opened 14 investigation processes for murders of journalists, that is, 31% of the 46 registered by Article 19.
“At the close of López Obrador’s government, it was identified that the violence could not be stopped,” Maldonado warned.
Most common attacks on journalists in Mexico
Likewise, the “Pending Rights” report revealed that the most common types of attacks were intimidation and harassment, with 25%.
They were followed by threats, with 20%, and the illegitimate use of public power, with 12%, with a general percentage of impunity for all crimes of 89%.
Maldonado highlighted that online attacks represented one in three attacks on the press.
As part of the seal of this six-year term, he added, at least 248 smear campaigns against the press were deployed in the country.
