By Ingrid Bachmann
The country's biggest media outlet announced that it would not report on the disappearance of former presidential candidate Diego Fernández de Cevallos until the investigation has concluded, drawing criticism from media and security experts, CNN México reports. (See articles in English by The Christian Science Monitor and the Associated Press.)
The politician disappeared last weekend near his home in Querétaro state. The authorities are sharing little information on the case and are conducting their investigation in complete secrecy, AFP explains.
Televisa has argued that its decision to self-censor is about prioritizing Fernández de Cevallos’ life over reporting the news, but Article 19’s Darío Ramírez says it is a “flawed editorial decision,” CNN México adds. Instead of staying quiet, he says, the network should “provide accurate information,” and that silence poses a larger security risk.
Other security experts have argued that the politician's life depends only on his captors and that Televisa can’t protect him.
The official silence has also created uncertainty. The state’s ombudsman says the lack of information is leading to speculation and fear, Diario Rotativo adds.
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
