Reporters Without Borders Round-Up of Journalists Killed Worldwide in 2015 Christophe Deloire - Reporters Sans Frontieres
go to original December 30, 2015

In Mexico, Journalism Can be a Very Dangerous Career Choice (teleSUR English)

The figures speak for themselves: a total of 110 journalists were killed in connection with their work or for still unclear reasons in 2015. At least 787 journalists have been killed in connection with their work since 2005.



Reporters Without Borders has been producing its annual round-up of acts of violence against journalists for the past 20 years. It constitutes one of the key components of our work in support of those who risk their lives to keep us informed.

RSF does not just count the dead. It does everything possible to save lives. It provides direct assistance to journalists who are threatened. It promotes improvements in media legislation. And it combats impunity for violence against journalists.


Mexico continues to be Latin America’s deadliest country for journalists, with eight killed in 2015 (five of them for still unclear reasons). The most dangerous regions are the southern states of Veracruz and Oaxaca, where organized crime and local politicians target reporters as soon as they start covering corruption.

Journalists used to be able to flee these states and seek refuge in calmer parts of the country but Rubén Espinosa’s murder in Mexico City on 31 July after fleeing from Veracruz showed that there is no longer any safe place in Mexico for threatened journalists.

Photojournalist Rubén Espinosa and four women were found dead on 31 July in an apartment in Mexico City, to which Espinosa had fled after receiving death threats in the southern state of Veracruz. His body bore the apparent marks of torture. His murder prompted outrage and realization of the almost complete absence of effective protection for journalists.

A law on the protection of journalists took effect ten days later (on 10 August) in Mexico City. It was the result of several years of consultation with civil society but will have little impact until it is extended to other parts of the country and adequate resources are assigned to its implementation.

See the Round-Up | Make a donation to RSF

Related: Mexico Ranked as One of the World's Deadliest Places for Journalists (teleSUR)

Related: Journalism, Tamaulipas-Style: Learning to Keep Quiet (El Daily Post)

Related: Endangered Mexican Journalists Seek Asylum in U.S. (CNN)

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