DOCUMENTARY: “Silenced Zones” – Displaced Journalists in Mexico (ENG)

This new video documentary investigates the situation of journalists who are forced into internal displacement as a consequence of their reporting and press work in Mexico

Published on February 21, 2022

Jesús Medina Aguilar | lanid, IDPs, Violence, Arts, Researcher, Americas (inc Caribbean), Community-based organisations

México. Periodistas Desplazados México. 2022 © Jesús Medina Aguilar

SEE THE DOCUMENTARY HERE: https://youtu.be/u_5EETVNXOg (in Spanish)

Mexico is the most dangerous country in the world for journalists. Journalists who are threatened due to their reporting or investigative work have to leave their homes to save their lives and those of their families. They are displaced journalists. This mini-documentary presents the perspective of the journalists who are victims of forced internal displacement that is driven by violence derived from their work as reporters. The documentary also shares analysis of their situation by prestigious organizations concerned with freedom of expression.

Jesús Medina Aguilar is a graduate of the Autonomous University of Guerrero in Communication Sciences. He has worked as a reporter for community radio stations and local media, covering issues of security, justice, social movements and public complaints. He started in local media in the State of Morelos, where he was the coordinator of the Community Radio Station Radio Tlahtoa 102.7FM until September 29, 2017. After receiving a death threat, he was the victim of an attack which has left him internally displaced with his family, waiting to return home one day.

In Mexico City, he joined a group of journalists in the same situation of internal forced displacement, all victims of violence in the country. Together they created different communication media. Later he worked as a reporter for media outlets, such as Zócalo magazine, Radio la 91.1 FM and currently Radio Tlatoani in Tlayacapan Morelos joined to RedNodos. Jointly with other colleagues, he founded the Association of Displaced Journalists Mexico, of which he is the president. In this association the members provide support to other victims of aggression, defend the human rights of journalists and other victims of internal forced displacement.

This documentary was produced by the author during his Summer Fellowship on Internal Displacement at the Internal Displacement Research Programme at the Refugee Law Initiative. The Fellowship was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, on behalf of the UKRI Global Challenge Research Fund, as part of the funded project “Interdisciplinary Network on Internal Displacement, Conflict and Protection” (AH/T005351/1).

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