By Lynn Romero
The passage of recent legislation in Mexico that allows crimes against journalists to be investigated at the federal, instead of local, level is just a first step toward improving the dire situation currently facing the Mexican press, Daniela Pastrana of the organization Periodistas de a Pie told the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas.
"There is still a lot left to do," said Pastrana, who presented at the 10th Austin Forum on Journalism in the Americas, pointing out that the law has yet to be implemented. Pastrana explained that Mexican "journalists are caught in the middle of a battle and still don't know who their enemies are."
Pastrana said she believed that global attention and awareness of the dangers Mexican journalists face is vital in resolving the devastating problem. She said she is encouraged by the work of journalists who keep working to improve the quality of journalism in the country, despite the terrible threats that they face. Pastrana also said that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Mexico is currently the most dangerous country in the Americas for journalists. See this map about attacks against the Mexican press from the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas.
Below, see Daniela Pastrana's full interview in Spanish:
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.
