The Morena governor of Baja California, Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, is at the center of controversy. An audio was leaked in which the governor orders a bribe to a journalist critical of her administration.
This incident has sparked a debate about the relationship between the government and the press, as well as about freedom of expression in the country.
La gobernadora morenista también está acusada de malversación de fondos
This is the content of the voice message from the Morena member
In the recording, the voice of the governor is heard instructing a collaborator to offer money to a journalist in order to stop unfavorable publications about her administration.
"'Hey, I think Ruben (name of the journalist to be bribed) is upset with me and with Molina. Support Ruben, there's no need for him to be hitting us every day, besides he doesn't even charge a fortune"
The authenticity of the audio was, as always, denied by the governor, who described the leak as an attempt to destabilize her government and discredit her little or nonexistent work.
Captura de pantalla del audio
It should be noted that the governor is under Washington's scrutiny for possible links with Mexican terrorist cartels.
This scandal highlights the tense and, at times, dangerous situation faced by journalists in Mexico. International organizations have pointed to the country as one of the most dangerous for practicing journalism, with high rates of murders and disappearances of communicators.
According to Reporters Without Borders, Mexico ranks third worldwide in journalist murders, only behind Palestine and Pakistan.
The Morena administration has been subject to criticism for not implementing effective measures to ensure the safety and freedom of journalists.
Despite expressed commitments, violence against the press persists.
Cases like that of Baja California demonstrate the questionable practices that some officials would be willing to employ to control the media narrative.
Various sectors of civil society and human rights organizations have demanded a thorough investigation into the accusations against the governor. They emphasize the need to clarify the facts and, if the bribery attempt is true, apply the corresponding sanctions.
La prensa enfrenta violencia en México
Additionally, they call on the federal authorities to strengthen journalist protection policies and ensure a safe environment for them to carry out their work.
In this context, the relationship between the government and the media is even more deteriorated. Trust in institutions weakens when it is perceived that from power, there is an attempt to curtail press freedom through corrupt practices.
In the journalistic community, we face the challenge of continuing to inform despite the threats and risks inherent to this profession in the country. Mexican society depends on a free and critical press for the strengthening of its democracy and the full exercise of its citizen rights.
