Professional Documents
Culture Documents
FUNDACIN MEPI
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
THE RESULTS
Fear of retaliation by organized crime continued to influence news outlets decision on what to publish.
Regional coverage of organized crime rose 100 percent compared to the year prior. News outlets reported 7 out of every 10 incidents about organized crime. More reporting did not improve the quality of coverage. Eighty percent of the monitored dailies failed to add clear context to their reporting. MEPI found federal and local government agencies failed to provide the regional media with timely and accurate information about crime and security. MEPI also identified a troubling pattern in several states largely controlled by a single cartel. In those regions, anti-crime coverage often outweighed reports on criminal incidents. In contested territories, the opposite was true, likely because organized crime did not have the same stronghold on media in those parts.
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
METHODOLOGY
We chose 14 online dailies with accessible archives.* We reviewed their crime stories during the year 2011. The articles were divided into two groups: stories that mentioned organized crime and those that did not. The content of each story was reviewed to determine state public safety trends and the hegemony of cartels. Factors considered were the use of official sources, narco language and how well the outlet explained the violence. Story content was also divided into two other categories: government anti-crime actions and organized crime activity. This review helped us understand how the news outlet portrayed drug-related violence to its readers.
_______ *In three states we only monitored six months of 2011 because of accessibility problems with the archives.
Tecnolgico de Monterrey, Mexico City Campus www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
Government Anti-Crime Actions Tracked Arrests Police Operations Official Reports Seizures, Raids
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
Organized Crime Activity Tracked Executions Extortions/Kidnappings Attacks on Government Offices/ Personnel Attacks on Police Threats to Schools Arson Home Invasions Shootouts, Heists and Armed Robberies Narco Paraphernalia Mass Graves Jail Breaks and Riots Attacks on Businesses Cartel-linked Female Killings Bombs, Grenades and MPG Attacks Cartel-related Corruption Road Blocks Known As Narco Blocks Attacks on Public Transport Attacks on Migrants Attacks on Drug Rehab Clinics Attacks Against Media Body Snatching Prostitution Tied to Cartels Messages in Banners, Graffiti
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
STATE
Coahuila Nuevo Len Ciudad Jurez Zacatecas Durango
MEDIA MONITORED ( 2011) MEDIA El Siglo de Torren El Norte Norte Imagen Zacatecas El Siglo de Durango
Guadalajara
El Informador
Arellano Felix, Sinaloa Cartel Zetas Zetas and La Familia Not Named
Morelos
El Diario de Morelos
Cartel Pacifico Sur, Gulf Cartel, Beltran Leyva Cartel, Sinaloa Cartel, La Familia, Zetas
Zetas, Gulf Cartel and Beltran Leyva Cartel Zetas Sinaloa Cartel
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
TORREN, COAHUILA
El Siglo de Torren
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
120
100
80
60
40
Police stories that do not mention organized crime Police stories that do mention organized crime
20
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Government anti-crime efforts
Tecnolgico de Monterrey, Mexico City Campus
Decapitated/Dismembered
Bound
Shootout
Executions
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
100
80
60
40
20
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
Series1
Teenagers/Youth 84
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
Norte
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
300
250 Police stories that do not mention organized crime Police stories that do mention drug trafficking
200
150
100
50
January
*Only 6 months
Tecnolgico de Monterrey, Mexico City Campus
February
March
April
May
June
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
Burned
Decapitated/Dismembered
Shootout
Executions
50
100
150
200
300
250
200
100
50
0 January February March April May June Tecnolgico de Monterrey, Mexico City Campus **According to the dailys crime stories and government homicide statistics. www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
Series1
Local government 18
Federal government 5
Teenagers/Youth 66
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
Durango, Durango
El Siglo de Durango
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
50
40 Police stories that do not mention organized crime Police stories that do mention organized crime
30
20
10
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
Burned
Strangled
Decapitated/Dismembered
Shootout
Executions
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
200
150
El Siglo de Durango
100
Government Statistics
50
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
300
250
200
150
100
50
During the first four months of 2011, the armed forces reported capturing 168 organized crime members, but the daily did not report on most of these arrests.
Changes in daily life: -Being a musician or lawyer became a high-risk profession. The Law College of Durango and the Musicians Conservatory reported high numbers of threats and kidnappings.
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
ZACATECAS, ZACATECAS
Imagen Zacatecas
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
120
100
80
60
Police stories that do not mention organized crime Police stories that do mention organized crime
40
20
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
Beaten
Executions
Shootout
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
30
25
20
Imagen Zacatecas
15
Government Statistics
10
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
100
80
60
40
20
Series1
Local government 3
Federal government 10
Teenagers/Youth 10
Not specified 72
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
The daily reported on more anti-crime activities that on those actions carried out by organized crime, a trend that was common in states controlled by one cartel.
No cartels were named in the news stories. The daily described organized crime members as armed groups or armed civilians. In early 2011, reports on the kidnappings and release of state and municipal policemen highlighted cartel efforts to infiltrate the police. Changes in daily life: -Taxi drivers stopped night work out of fear for their safety. The Zetas often forced them to become lookouts and informants.
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
GUADALAJARA, JALISCO
El Informador
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
Police stories that do not mention organized crime Police stories that do mention organized crime
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
Strangled
Shootout
Bound
Executions
50
100
150
200
250
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
90
80 70
60
50 40
30
20 10 0
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
Series1
Local government 8
Federal government 1
Teenagers/Youth 62
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
El Maana
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
600
500 400 300 200 100
Police stories that do not mention organized crime Police stories that do mention organized crime
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
600
500
400
300
200
100
Decapitated/ Dismembered
Executions
Shootout
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
250
200
150
100
50
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Series1
Local government 0
Federal government 1
Teenagers/Youth 0
Not specified 73
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
El Norte
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
100
80
60
Police stories that do not mention organized crime Police stories that do mention organized crime
40
20
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
Bound
Decapitated/ Dismembered
Shootout
Executions
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
200
150
El Norte
100
Government Statistics
50
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
500
400
300
200
100
Series1
Local government 15
Federal government 16
Teenagers/Youth 218
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
JALAPA, VERACRUZ
La Jornada
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
35
30
25
20
Police stories that do not mention organized crime Police stories that do mention organized crime
15
10
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
Executions
Shootout
10
15
20
25 www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
120
100
80
La Jornada
60
Government Statistics
40
20
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
Local government
Federal government
Municipal/state/transit police
Teenagers/Youth
Not specified
10
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
CUERNAVACA, MORELOS
El Diario de Morelos
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
140
120
100
80
Police stories that do not mention organized crime Police stories that do mention organized crime
60
40
20
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
439
438.5
438
437.5
437
436.5
436
Strangled
Decapitated/Dismembered
Bound
Executions
20
40
60
80
100
120
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
30
25
20
El Diario de Morelos
15
Government Statistics
10
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
100
80
60
40
20
Series1
Local government 2
Federal government 1
Teenagers/Youth 56
Not specified 98
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
AGUASCALIENTES, AGUASCALIENTES
El Sol de Aguascalientes
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
50
40
30
Police stories that do not mention organized crime Police stories that do mention organized crime
20
10
January
*Only 5 months Tecnolgico de Monterrey, Mexico City Campus
February
March
April
May
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Strangled
Executions
10
12
14
16
18
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
14
12
10
El Sol de Aguascalientes
8
Government Statistics
January
Tecnolgico de Monterrey, Mexico City Campus
February
March
April
May
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
20
15
10
Local government
Federal government
Municipal/state/transit police
Teenagers/Youth
Not specified
21 www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
The daily reported that organized crime often recruited children as young as 15 years
old.
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
PACHUCA, HIDALGO
El Sol de Hidalgo
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
250
200
150
Police stories that do not mention organized crime Police stories that do mention organized crime
100
50
January
*Only 5 months Tecnolgico de Monterrey, Mexico City Campus
February
March
April
May
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
100 90 80 70 60
50
40 30 20 10 0
Burned
Executions
10
12
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
10
El Sol de Hidalgo
6
Government Statistics
January
Tecnolgico de Monterrey, Mexico City Campus
February
March
April
May
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
16
14
12
10
Local government
Federal government
Municipal/state/transit police
Teenagers/Youth
Not specified
16 www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
MORELIA, MICHOACN
La Voz de Michoacn
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
140
120
100
80
Police stories that do not mention organized crime Police stories that do mention organized crime
60
40
20
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
600
500
400
300
200
100
0 Government anti-crime efforts Tecnolgico de Monterrey, Mexico City Campus Organized crime activities www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
Stab
Bound
Shootout
Executions
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
HERMOSILLO, SONORA
El Imparcial
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
200
150
50
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
600
500 400 300 200 100 0 Government anti-crime efforts Tecnolgico de Monterrey, Mexico City Campus Organized crime activities www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
Bound
Shootout
Executions
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
50
40
30
20
10
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
Local government 3
Federal government 1
Teenagers/Youth 0
Not specified 17
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
CULIACN, SINALOA
El Noroeste
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
160
140
120
100
80
Police stories that do not mention organized crime Police stories that do mention organized crime
60
40
20
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
Shootout
Bound
Executions
100
200
300
400
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
www.fundacionmepi.org @FMEPI
300
250
200
150
100
50
0 Series1
Local government 14
Federal government 5
Teenagers/Youth 197