The year that was: Press under pressure

2010 has been a banner year for the Latin American press, albeit for the wrong reasons. From Cuba to Argentina, members of the media have come under attack from government censorship and violence from criminal organizations. For example:

• A group of U.N. “human rights experts” criticized the Honduran government for not properly investigating death threats and murders of against journalists.
• A study by a Mexican press watchdog group concluded that regional newspapers rarely reported on widespread “narcoviolence.”
  
• Reporters Without Borders accused demobilized ex-paramilitary members in Colombia of “forcing journalists to self-censorship or exile.”
  

The following video is of a protest in Mexico City in the name of harassed and slain members of the media. Nearly 700 people participated in a silent march holding signs of killed press members as well as a banner calling for the government to provide “more guarantees” for journalists to fulfill their duties.

The above protest is an unfortunate reminder of the dangers constantly faced by the press in Latin America. Perhaps the situation for the media will improve in 2011 though it's much easier to be pessimistic than hopeful.

Online Sources- The Latin Americanist
Video Source - YouTube