A new report by press freedom organisation Article 19 says killings and disappearances of journalists in Mexico have nearly doubled in 2025, highlighting growing threats to media workers in the country.
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According to the UK-based advocacy group, Mexico recorded one journalist disappearance and seven murders this year, compared with four journalist killings reported in 2024. The organisation said Mexico once again tops the list in Latin America for violence, censorship and judicial harassment targeting the press.
The report also documented 53 physical attacks on journalists in 2025, significantly higher than neighbouring countries such as Honduras and Guatemala.
Article 19 noted that most killings occurred in states with high levels of organised crime and violence, including Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Sonora and the State of Mexico. These areas have long faced security challenges linked to criminal groups and attacks on civil society.
In addition to physical violence, the report said judicial harassment against journalists in Mexico reached record levels last year. It documented 153 cases involving alleged misuse of public authority to intimidate or pressure members of the press.
The organisation stated that in cases where victims or their families identified alleged aggressors, nearly one-third were public officials.
The report comes during the first full year of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, which began in October 2024.
During the report’s presentation, Article 19 regional director Leopoldo Maldonado urged society not to normalise violence against reporters or accept journalism as a life-threatening profession.
Separately, the Committee to Protect Journalists earlier described Mexico as the deadliest country for journalists in 2025 outside active war zones such as Gaza, Yemen and Sudan.
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Press freedom groups have repeatedly called for stronger protections, accountability measures and investigations into attacks on journalists across the country.