organized crime and journalism: lessons from sonora, mexico
TRANSCRIPT
IRE Conference 2014 Organized crime &
JournalismLessons from Northwestern Mexico
Jesús Ibarra 27/06/2014
A low point• Alfredo Jimenez
disappearance in 2005 set the early decline: The El Imparcial mess. !
• Two reporters have been killed in the last 4 years !
• A printed media closed its doors in 2007: Cambio
Not just pot and meth• Organized crime in Mexico & Sonora is not only
related to marijuana, cocaine and crystal
The half of a deadly year• At least 338 killings dating back to June 22nd • New profiles for murders and victims
New opportunities• Give voice to the victims !
• Hear the pulse of the community !
• Take advantage of local and federal transparency laws !
• Create your own databases, maps, & GIS !
• Try to bring people from other fields !
• Monitor crime in social media. !
• Create a professional network !
• Stop giving credit only to political sources
What we must understand• Learn geopolitics, it helps a lot! !
• Be smart, don’t try to be a hero and get killed in the process. !
• Study the history of the drug business in your region. !
• Keep track of local social networks. !
• If your boss doesn’t invest in training, do it yourself. !
• Try to create business models covering organized crime online