Event in Mexico Spotlights Plight of Reporters Forced to Leave Home

Rewritten Article:

heads to the Book and Rose Festival in Mexico City*

Mexico City, April 26 - The struggles of displaced journalists were a hot topic at the second day of the annual Book and Rose Festival, happening in the capital this weekend.

You might also like: The popemobile-converted hearse set to carry Francisco's CoffinGriselda Triana, widow of slain journalist Javier Valdez, shared her harrowing story of being forced to leave Culiacán after orders from the Attorney General. She recounted the subsequent disintegration of her family, an unfortunate reality shared by many journalism colleagues who had to flee for their lives after exposing corruption.

Salvadoran Carolina Amaya confessed that moving to Mexico was like losing her soul, and she struggled to write for several years due to the traumatic experience, while Mexican Carlos Juárez, a recipient of the Gabo journalism prize, admitted to needing therapy after being forced to leave his home in Tamaulipas.

"My family suffered greatly," he lamented.

This year's festival primarily focuses on exile, migration, and reunions. On Saturday, numerous book presentations took place, including 'Las Niñas del Naranjo,' which earned Argentine writer Gabriela Cabezon Camera the 2024 Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz Prize. The book reimagines the story of Catalina de Erauso, a historical figure who left Spain to become a soldier in South America, shedding light on the destruction of the continent.

Benito Taibo, a prominent figure in promoting reading in Mexico, called the book "stunning, astonishing, and unsettling."

In addition to book presentations, the festival featured conversations about Mexico's surrealist women, an oral narration of African stories, and numerous other highlights. It is celebrating its 17th anniversary and is organized by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

The festival, which takes place outdoors, will come to an end this Sunday with debates on wild migration, a young people's oral narration workshop, and the presentation of numerous books. In total, over 400 book presentations, debates, conferences, poetry readings, workshops, oral narration, and tributes to Peruvian Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa and deceased Mexican writers Hernán Lara Zavala and Julio Trujillo are scheduled for the event.

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Enrichment Data:

Journalists in Mexico City face a dangerous landscape, characterized by physical threats, intimidation, harassment, and systematic challenges. Their ordeals illuminate pressing issues in press freedom and personal security within the region.

Experiences and Obstacles

Types of Attacks: Journalists in Mexico City frequently encounter a variety of attacks including physical assaults, public insults, discrediting campaigns, legal and financial pressure. Nearly 60% of journalists have faced public insults and defamation attempts. Women, political and security reporters, and freelancers are more susceptible to such threats.
Surveillance and Job Insecurity: Beyond physical violence, journalists often deal with surveillance and a precarious job market. This environment encourages self-censorship as journalists navigate threats without adequate institutional support.
Lack of Institutional Support: Institutional decay and impunity worsen the predicament of journalists, as government and law enforcement agencies frequently fail to protect them or penalize offenders. Additionally, the absence of a central registry for journalists hinders efforts to monitor threats and offer timely assistance.
Normalization of Violence: Violence is so widespread in Mexico City that even shocking discoveries related to criminal violence, such as mass graves, no longer astonish the public. Journalists who cover such subjects often face cold reception, threats from criminal gangs, and political scapegoating, further complicating their work and safety.

Support Systems and Coping Strategies

Community and Collaboration: Journalists have developed coping mechanisms like fact-checking, mutual support networks, and cautious self-censorship to handle ongoing threats. Civilian groups like “buscadoras” (searching mothers) stand up to cartel intimidation and press authorities for justice despite official neglect and harassment.
Governmental and Institutional Measures: In response to certain emergencies, Mexico City’s administration under Claudia Sheinbaum has taken steps such as advocating for improved protection protocols for vulnerable journalists and reinforcing institutional bodies like the National Search Commission. Despite efforts, systemic obstacles and impunity remain significant hurdles.
International and Academic Involvement: Research and advocacy by academics and journalism institutions bring light to the challenging circumstances of journalists in Mexico and the broader Latin American region. For example, Grisel Salazar from Universidad Iberoamericana and Summer Harlow of the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas have raised awareness about the multifaceted pressures journalists in Mexico face.

Griselda Triana, a former Mexican journalist, recounted her harrowing story of fleeing Culiacán after orders from the Attorney General, a common experience shared by many displaced journalists in dangerous landscapes like Mexico City.
In addition to the struggles faced by journalists, Griselda Triana also faced the disintegration of her family and personal hardships due to her forced displacement, illustrating the broader repercussions of threats to press freedom.
The Book and Rose Festival in Mexico City, focusing on exile, migration, and reunions, featured presentations like 'Las Niñas del Naranjo,' which reimagines the story of historical figures who fled their homes to escape adversity, such as Catalina de Erauso.
Promoters of reading in Mexico, like Benito Taibo, praised books like 'Las Niñas del Naranjo' for their nuanced portrayals of migration and exile, highlighting the importance of education and self-development in understanding and coping with such challenging circumstances.