MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Simply days after condemning an assassination try on a outstanding journalist, Mexico’s president on Monday criticized the media for allegedly defending particular curiosity teams, even singling out the focused information anchor.
Leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador blasted the “spokespeople for conservatism” throughout his every day information convention on Monday, calling out by identify a number of high-profile impartial journalists together with tv and radio host Ciro Gomez Leyva
Gomez Leyva mentioned two motorcycle-mounted people shot at him when he was in his automotive only a brief distance from his dwelling final Thursday night time, noting solely the car’s armor saved him.
“Now they play sufferer,” added Lopez Obrador. “(However) they’re the elite, from probably the most choose media,” he mentioned, claiming well-paid media figures search to guard curiosity teams he didn’t identify.
Lopez Obrador on Monday denied utilizing his common information convention to “stigmatize” perceived opponents, together with the media. However rights group Article 19 has compiled knowledge exhibiting he makes use of the conferences to single out reporters, criticizing the media six instances a month on common final 12 months.
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Mexico is the world’s deadliest nation for media with 11 journalists killed thus far this 12 months, based on Reporters With out Borders.
Violence in opposition to the press through the first half of Lopez Obrador’s time period was up 85%, in comparison with the identical interval of his predecessor’s time period, based on a report by the rights group.
“Though the motive for the assault in opposition to Gomez Leyva just isn’t but recognized, it is unattainable to not join the dots: Mexico’s president has to take accountability for being the principle promoter of a hostile surroundings in opposition to journalism,” wrote Carlos Loret de Mola, additionally singled out by the president, in a Washington Publish opinion column printed on Monday.
(Reporting by Anthony Esposito; Modifying by David Alire Garcia and Lisa Shumaker)
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