On March 16^th, news enthusiasts in Mexico woke up to shocking news – Carmen Aristegui, a journalist and popular talk show host, had been abruptly fired by MVS Radio. Ms. Aristegui is responsible for exposing numerous scandals – everything from abuse of power to politician-led prostitution rings — and stepping on very powerful and influential toes. This is not the first time that MVS Radio, and its parent broadcasting company Noticias MVS, has terminated Artistegui’s employment. In 2011, she was fired and then promptly rehired after entertaining on her show that then-President Calderón was an alcoholic. Similarly, there is much speculation that her most recent expose about President Enrique Peña Niéto’s lavish “casa blanca” caused the Niéto administration to demand her termination.

In November, Ms. Aristegui and her team of journalists broke the news that the title to President Nieto’s family mansion was held by Juan Armando Hinojosa, owner of Grupo Higa and several other companies that have been at the receiving end of a plethora of government contracts. The story shook Mexico politics, and prompted Ms. Aristegui to join with five other Mexican media outlets and two civic groups to create Mexicoleaks. Inspired by the effectiveness of WikiLeaks, Méxicoleaks aims to expose corruption within government through anonymous tips. MVS Radio insists that Ms. Aristegui lost her job because she broke two company rules: she affiliated MVS Radio with Méxicoleaks without management’s consent, and she issued an ultimatum to the broadcasting company when there were rumors of termination. Alternatively, MVS Radio has a longstanding partnership with the Mexican government and profits from the ad space that the administration buys. The narrative of possible political intimidation is certainly not outrageous. Nevertheless, MVS is adamant that Arestigui’s dismissal was about her breach in company protocol and that “it’s a situation in which everyone loses”.

Thousands of outraged citizens took to Twitter and other social media site to express their frustration at the compromised state of free speech within their country. President Niéto is suffering the backlash – declining approval ratings and an upcoming election cycle. The president has stayed silent on the issues of the scandal and subsequent termination of Ms. Aristegui. With mounting public pressure, President Niéto must answer questions about the constant challenges to freedom of the press in Mexico, and the part that his administration has played in the censoring.

Sources:

http://www.latintimes.com/did-enrique-pena-nieto-back-carmen-aristegui-firing-some-journalists-seem-think-so-303818

http://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanielparishflannery/2015/03/16/firing-of-dissident-journalist-carmen-aristegui-bad-news-for-mexico/

http://www.wsj.com/articles/dismissal-of-two-mexican-journalists-draws-accusation-of-attack-on-media-1426296628

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/03/24/the-big-money-scandal-rocking-mexico.html