Mexican Journalists Face Death Threats Amid Rising Violence Against Press

Mexican Journalists Face Death Threats Amid Rising Violence Against Press
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The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Mexican authorities to investigate death threats against reporters Óscar Balderas and Luis Chaparro, Jurist News reported. Balderas received three threatening calls and a WhatsApp message warning him to “keep quiet.” Although Chaparro was not directly threatened, he was mentioned in the messages. Balderas, known for reporting on sex trafficking, cartel violence, and crimes against journalists, informed Chaparro of the threats.

CPJ’s Mexico representative, Jan-Albert Hoosten, condemned the government’s failure to address impunity surrounding attacks on the press. The threats follow the recent killing of journalist José Carlos González in Acapulco, highlighting Mexico’s dangerous environment for media workers.

Reporters Without Borders ranks Mexico 124th out of 180 countries for press freedom, noting it remains one of the deadliest countries for journalists, with three killed so far in 2025. Despite contacting the Federal Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists, neither Balderas nor Chaparro has filed police reports yet.