Comments on: Despite the violence, Mexican authorities stay silent http://www.mexicoreporter.com/2008/02/13/despite-the-violence-mexican-authorities-stay-silent/ Multi-media reporting from Mexico Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:32:14 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Michel Marizco http://www.mexicoreporter.com/2008/02/13/despite-the-violence-mexican-authorities-stay-silent/comment-page-1/#comment-72 Michel Marizco Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:00:44 +0000 http://mexicoreporter.wordpress.com/?p=150#comment-72 You know, I was surprised enough when I saw that IFEX story last summer to call around and ask about it. It turned out the original source was some sports paper in DF. Nobody else had heard Medina Mora make such a statement. For certain, nobody else published it. That's not to say the government doesn't back organized crime against journalists, but I don't think this is the best example. You know, I was surprised enough when I saw that IFEX story last summer to call around and ask about it. It turned out the original source was some sports paper in DF. Nobody else had heard Medina Mora make such a statement. For certain, nobody else published it.
That’s not to say the government doesn’t back organized crime against journalists, but I don’t think this is the best example.

]]> By: Keith Dannemiller http://www.mexicoreporter.com/2008/02/13/despite-the-violence-mexican-authorities-stay-silent/comment-page-1/#comment-73 Keith Dannemiller Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:52:22 +0000 http://mexicoreporter.wordpress.com/?p=150#comment-73 Re: 'developing trend of self-censorship' The Mexican mainstream media has a long history of self-censorship, given that newsprint supplies use to be controlled by the Interior Ministry (Gobernación), by way of PIPSA. Today, PIPSA is basically a paraestatal, or mixed ownership company. But withholding government sponsored advertising is still a very effective method of media control in Mexico. Critical media coverage here results in restricted or total loss of advertising revenues from government entities. Self-censorship is an established media practice in Mexico. That the narcos are availing themselves of this tactic should not come as a surprise-- the operative model was already conveniently in place. Granted the stakes--no advertising budget vs. getting killed-- are not comparable. But when you have (August 2007) the Interior Ministry (Gobernación) basically backing the narco offensive against journalists (http://www.ifex.org/es/content/view/full/85279), and not protecting them, well, it's really a 'trend' that has been developing for a long time. Re: ‘developing trend of self-censorship’

The Mexican mainstream media has a long history of self-censorship, given that newsprint supplies use to be controlled by the Interior Ministry (Gobernación), by way of PIPSA. Today, PIPSA is basically a paraestatal, or mixed ownership company. But withholding government sponsored advertising is still a very effective method of media control in Mexico. Critical media coverage here results in restricted or total loss of advertising revenues from government entities. Self-censorship is an established media practice in Mexico.
That the narcos are availing themselves of this tactic should not come as a surprise– the operative model was already conveniently in place. Granted the stakes–no advertising budget vs. getting killed– are not comparable. But when you have (August 2007) the Interior Ministry (Gobernación) basically backing the narco offensive against journalists (http://www.ifex.org/es/content/view/full/85279), and not protecting them, well, it’s really a ‘trend’ that has been developing for a long time.

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