What Does Firing of Well-Known Journalist Mean for Mexico?
What Does Firing of Well-Known Journalist Mean for Mexico?
"There clearly is an impression that press freedoms in the Western Hemisphere are being challenged," points out COA’s Eric Farnsworth on firing of high-profile journalist Carmen Aristegui in Mexico.
Mexico City — The firing of one of Mexico’s most prominent journalists this week added to a growing list of concerns about the strength of the country's democracy.
Carmen Aristegui, who exposed numerous high-profile scandals, including ones that touched President Enrique Peña Nieto and his wife, was dismissed by radio station Noticias MVS Sunday.
Events started to unravel last week, when Ms. Aristegui’s investigative team and a handful of other media outlets together launched an initiative called Mexicoleaks, which aims to gather tips about government and political corruption....
Eric Farnsworth, vice president of the Council of Americas in Washington, says "there clearly is an impression – fair or not – that press freedoms in the Western Hemisphere are being challenged.” He cites prominent examples from Venezuela and Ecuador, where the governments have threatened journalists or taken away radio and television concessions.
Public petitions
In the case of Aristegui – whose listenership was estimated to be nearly 15 million – more than 174,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org to reinstate her, and protesters gathered outside MVS’s studios on Monday....
