Another journalist killed in Mexico. Here’s how the deaths are counted

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MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican authorities were investigating the killing of a local reporter Monday in the central state of Guanajuato, the country’s homicide leader.

The state prosecutor’s office identified the victim only by his first name, but local media outlets said the victim was Kristian Zavala, who covered local goings on in the city of Silao on his Facebook page. Zavala and another person were killed Sunday, according to the office.

It was the third killing of a media worker so far this year, though it remained unclear if the motive was connected to his work. The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists and Mexico’s chapter of Articulo 19 demanded a thorough investigation.

For years, Mexico has been one of the world’s most dangerous countries outside a war zone for journalists.

Sometimes authorities say the victim was a journalist, but usually only if it was someone well known. More commonly, press advocacy organizations share the information.

The information, however, can vary between sources. In many cases, like that of Zavala, the victims cover very local events using social platforms rather than for a traditional newspaper, television or radio station. In those cases, it’s also common that the coverage is only one of the person’s jobs. They may also drive a taxi or do something else to make ends meet.

The same authorities who are looked to for answers in some cases quickly dismiss a journalist’s work as a possible motive or suggest they were involved with unseemly people or business.

No. Mexico had its deadliest year for journalists in 2022 with 13 killings, according to CPJ and Articulo 19. In 2023 and 2024, that fell to half or fewer, but non-lethal attacks shot up.

In 2023, Articulo 19 recorded 561 such attacks, which includes disappearances as well.

Hyperlocal journalists like Zavala are frequently the most exposed. They cover crime in places where cartels operate with impunity or cover local politics where justice is difficult to access and politicians may consider it easier to simply silence a critical voice.

Press advocates criticize authorities for frequently downplaying aggression toward the press and sometimes not investigating at all.

During the administration of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, he used his daily press briefings frequently to attack journalists, calling them enemies or adversaries and leaving the impression they were fair game.