Deaths Highlight Ongoing Dangers for Media Workers in Mexico

MEXICO CITY – Two journalists were fatally shot in separate incidents within 24 hours in Mexico’s western states, underscoring the ongoing risks faced by media professionals in the country.

On Wednesday afternoon (Oct 30), entertainment reporter Patricia Ramirez, also known as Paty Bunbury, was killed in the western state of Colima, according to the state prosecutor’s office. Ramirez’s death was confirmed by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a rights group based in New York.

This incident followed the fatal shooting of Mauricio Cruz, the head of an online news outlet, late Tuesday in Uruapan, a city in the violence-ridden state of Michoacan. According to local prosecutors, another individual was injured during the attack.

Uruapan has gained notoriety for its high levels of violent crime, including brutal acts such as beheadings linked to conflicts between drug cartels and clashes with law enforcement.

Cruz’s news platform, MinutoXMinuto Michoacan, paid tribute to him on social media, sharing his last live video recorded moments before his murder.

These killings are the first involving journalists under President Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office earlier this month. Sheinbaum has pledged to address violence and crime but has stated her government will not pursue a renewed war against the nation’s powerful drug cartels, following the approach of her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Mexico remains one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists, with frequent attacks and murders reported, often linked to organized crime and corruption.