The biggest newspaper in Mexico’s most violent city has said it will restrict its drug war coverage after the killing of its second journalist in less than two years, Associated Press (AP) reports.
In a front-page editorial on Sunday, El Diario de Juarez spoke directly to the drug cartels:
“Leaders of the different organizations that are fighting for control of Ciudad Juarez: The loss of two reporters from this publishing house in less than two years represents an irreparable sorrow for all of us who work here, and, in particular, for their families,” the editorial said. “We ask you to explain what you want from us, what we should try to publish or not publish, so we know what to expect.”
According to AP gunmen attacked two El Diario photographers on Thursday – one a new employee and the other an intern. The new employee, Luis Carlos Santiago, 21, died and the intern was seriously wounded. In 2008, a crime reporter for El Diario was killed outside his home as he was taking his daughters to school.
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At least 22 Mexican journalists have been killed over the past four years, at least eight of them targeted because of their reports on crime and corruption, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists
Carlos Lauria, a senior coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) told AFP: “Even in one of the places where violence is worst … El Diario was still doing a lot of good reporting on crime. The fact that they’re giving up is really bad. It’s an indication that the situation is out of control.”
According to Reporters without Borders 11 journalists have been murdered in Mexico this year.
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Reporters without Borders calls Mexico ‘one of the most dangerous countries in Latin America for press freedom and one of the deadliest places in the world for journalists”.
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