MEXICO CITY — Violence against the press in Mexico escalated sharply in 2025, with journalist killings nearly doubling compared to the previous year as organized crime and alleged state-linked intimidation continue to threaten media workers, according to press freedom organizations and recent monitoring reports, May 11, 2026.
The surge underscores a worsening climate for journalists covering crime, corruption and human rights issues across several high-risk regions of the country.
Mexico Journalist Murders reach highest levels in years
At least eight journalists were killed or disappeared in Mexico during 2025, up from four killings recorded in 2024, according to the UK-based watchdog Article 19. Reuters reported that the majority of attacks occurred in states with strong criminal activity, including Guerrero, Guanajuato and Sonora.
The Committee to Protect Journalists also identified Mexico among the deadliest countries for media professionals outside active war zones, highlighting a broader global crisis in press safety, where hundreds of journalists were killed worldwide in 2025 alone in various conflicts and targeted attacks.
Beyond fatalities, Mexican journalists also faced 53 physical attacks and a record 153 cases of judicial harassment, which advocacy groups say is increasingly used to silence critical reporting and investigative journalism.
Long-standing pattern of violence against the press
The latest surge continues a long-running pattern of violence against journalists in Mexico, where organized crime, political corruption and impunity have historically contributed to persistent threats. Reports from Reporters Without Borders show that journalist killings in Mexico have remained consistently high in recent years, with at least eight murders documented in just the first half of 2025 alone.
Mexico has repeatedly ranked among the most dangerous countries for journalists globally, with advocacy groups warning that weak investigations and low conviction rates contribute to continued attacks. Over the past decade, dozens of journalists have been killed, many of them reporting on cartel activity and government corruption.
Historical context of journalist killings in Mexico
The current wave of violence reflects a broader historical crisis. In 2022, Mexico recorded at least 13 journalist murders, its deadliest year on record, according to international press monitoring groups such as the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders. Earlier incidents, including the 2015 killing of journalist Moisés Sánchez Cerezo, highlighted the risks faced by reporters investigating local political corruption and organized crime networks.
Advocacy groups such as Article 19 have long documented systemic attacks on journalists, including threats, kidnappings and assassinations, often with limited accountability. Human rights observers say this entrenched impunity continues to embolden perpetrators and suppress press freedom across large parts of the country.
Rising concern over press freedom in Mexico
Press freedom organizations warn that the growing number of attacks reflects not only criminal violence but also increasing institutional pressure on journalists. Some reports note that a significant share of aggressors are public officials, raising concerns about the misuse of state power to intimidate the press.
As Mexico enters another year of heightened scrutiny, media watchdogs are urging stronger protections, faster investigations and accountability measures to address what they describe as a deepening crisis for journalism in the country.
