Another journalist was shot dead in Mexico. This is how murders are calculated.
Mexican authorities are investigating local journalists in central central state killing local journalists on Monday Guanajuatothe country’s homicide leader.
The state attorney’s office identified the victim only by his name, but local media said the victim was Kristian Zavala, who covered locals in Silao City on his Facebook page. Zavala and another were killed Sunday, according to the office. Zavala and his companion were shot dead by an unknown person after midnight, according to local media.
At least this year, at least the third killing of a media worker, although it is unclear whether the motivation is related to his work. The U.S. Committee on Protecting Journalists and Mexico Chapter 19 calls for a thorough investigation.
Guanajuato’s violence is linked to Santa Rosa de Lima and ongoing conflict Jalisco’s new generation cartelone of the most powerful countries in Latin American countries. Last month, the Trump administration officially marked eight cartels as terrorist groups, including the Jalisco cartel.
Mexico has been a member of the world for many years The most dangerous country Reporter outside the war zone. The Commission on Protecting Journalists said in a report released last month that a record-breaking journalist was killed worldwide.
How to calculate the murder of reporters
Sometimes, authorities say the victim was a journalist, but usually only people who were well-known at the time. More commonly, news advocacy organizations share information.
However, information may vary between messages. In many cases, such as Zavala, victims use social platforms instead of traditional newspapers, television or radio stations to cover very local events. In this case, coverage is just one of the person’s jobs. They may also drive a taxi or do other things to make ends meet.
In some cases, the same authorities seeking answers quickly view the journalist’s work as a possible motivation or suggest that they are related to extraordinary people or businesses.
The number of journalists killed less, but does this mean it is safer?
No, Mexico pays tribute to journalists in its deadliest year 2022 According to CPJ and Article 19. In 2023 and 2024, 13 murders dropped to half or less, but non-fatal attacks exploded.
In 2023, Articleculo 19 recorded 561 such attacks, including missing.
Hyperlocal journalists like Zavala are usually the most exposed. They cover cartels’ impunity or cover places where local politics is difficult to get to the point where justice is difficult, and politicians may think it’s easier to simply make critical voices.
All but the killings and kidnappings by a few media workers are unresolved.
“Imprisonment is a norm for crime against media,” the protection journalist said in a report on Mexico last year.
What are the authorities doing?
Media advocates criticize the authorities for often reducing aggressiveness to the media and sometimes not investigating them at all.
During the administration of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, he often used daily press conferences to attack journalists, calling them enemies or opponents, and leaving a fair impression on them.
A report by CPJ and Amnesty International showed in 2024 that Mexico has failed to work to provide state-approved protections to members of the press.
