Mexico-disappearing journalists only 2nd to Russia

Mexico-disappearing journalists only 2nd to Russia
In a period of three short years, at least seven Mexican reporters have disappeared—only second to Russia. Many of the journalists were reporting about links between public authority and drug traffickers. According to an article titled, “The Disappeared in Mexico” by the Committee to Protect Journalists, many of the reporters vanished while going to meet a source.
Because of the link between police and drug traffickers, some surmise that the crimes were intentionally unsolved. I would agree with that, how could the police department do a thorough investigation into a case that has labeled the police as the ‘bad guys’? The article also stated, “Rep. Gerardo Priego Tapia, who heads a congressional committee on violence against the press and who supports federalization of such crimes said, "The worst scenario for journalists is when organized crime and the government become partners. And in many parts of this country, they are completely intertwined."”
The murders and mysterious disappearances have led many newspapers to seriously question their journalistic values. In a Washington Post article, Manual Roig-Franzia wrote that a newspaper in Sorona was temporarily shut down in 2007 and editors at the two largest papers have encouraged their reporters to stay away from crime related stories. Although I understand why newspapers are trepid about covering such stories, it also, in my opinion, will lead to more journalists disappearing and the issue staying completely out of the press. If the media is afraid to cover certain hot topics, then what’s to stop them from being the public Watch Dog?
The most shocking aspect of the Washington Post article is that crime reporters are not the only targets. “While crime reporters are common targets, sportswriters have been kidnapped by drug cartel hit men upset over coverage of their favorite soccer teams,” Roig-Franzia wrote. If such asinine crimes are allowed to go on by the police, then something is very wrong with the authoritative system in Mexico. People cannot go around killing journalists just because they don’t like how the article was written!
Mexico’s President Calderon has promised to take steps to solve the problem and help make Mexico safer for journalists, which currently it is the second most dangerous country for journalists behind Iraq. It will be interesting to see how the situation unfolds over the next few months.

By: Urja Dave