Forced Silence: Determinants of Journalist Killings in Mexico's States, 2010–2015

Abstract

Why are some subnational states more dangerous for journalists? This exploratory article assesses the association of social variables with the murders of journalists within one single country, Mexico, where forty-one journalists were killed from 2010 to 2015. The article suggests that the violent deaths of journalists in Mexico's thirty-two states are more likely to happen in those subnational polities with high levels of social violence, internal conflict, severe violations of human rights, low democratic development, and economic inequality. The implications of this research and policy recommendations are discussed within the conclusion.

Caught in the Middle: Internal and External Pressures on the Coverage of Organized Crime in Mexico

“…Under these circumstances, recent studies on anti-press violence in Mexico have tried to explain the impact of the endemic risk associated with journalism. Brambila (2017) argued that journalists are more likely to be murdered in regions with high levels of social violence, internal conflict, low democratic and economic development, and human rights violations. Besides these social determinants of violence against news professionals, threats, economic pressure (Cepeda, 2018; Reyna, 2017), isolation and dangerous beats (such as crime news, organized crime, and government corruption) are predictors of censorship, both individual and organizational (Hughes & Márquez, 2018).…”

“…Furthermore, it exemplifies the various effects of impunity and the clear absence of rule of law in the exercise of freedom of expression in Mexico (Article 19 y CENCOS, 2009; De León Vázquez & González, 2020). Brambila (2017) goes further, arguing that violence against the press and subsequent impunity reflect a serious problem in how both state and political institutions function.…”

Perception of journalists reporting in conflict zones: Labour situation, working conditions and main challenges in information coverage in contexts of violence

“…The violent death of journalists is a very critical issue worldwide; these deaths represent not only a public health problem but also a major threat to the establishment of open societies. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a well-respected and independent news safety organization based in New York, more than 1,300 journalists and media workers worldwide have been killed when performing their duty in the last two decades (Brambila, 2017).…”

Why are journalists threatened and killed? A portrait of neo-paramilitary anti-press violence in Colombia’s Bajo Cauca

“…But I am sure that snitching is the biggest crime. (U1) Julieta Brambila (2017) argues that criminal gangs attack journalists to prevent information about their activities becoming public. Bradley Holland and Viridiana Rios (2017) also describe how criminal organisations go to great lengths to both prevent and control 'leaks'.…”

“…APV research can be divided into the following three broad camps: (1) studies that explore determinant factors (see for example, Bartman, 2018; Brambila, 2017; Hughes and Márquez-Ramírez, 2018); (2) studies, which examine the impact of APV (see for example, Hughes et al, 2017a; Hughes and Márquez-Ramírez, 2018); and finally (3) emerging research on how journalism is responding to this violence (see for example Brambila and Lugo-Ocando, 2018; Salazar, 2019).…”