Mexican journalist fired; had revealed presidential scandal
MEXICO CITY (AP) — The crusading host of Mexico’s top-rated national news radio program has been fired in a case that many fear is a blow to freedom of expression.
MVS Radio said Sunday that Carmen Aristegui was removed for challenging the firing of two reporters who had misused the company’s name by suggesting it was a sponsor of MexicoLeaks, a website meant to reveal leaked information on corruption in Mexico.
The company said in a statement that it could not accept “an ultimatum.”
Some accepted that Aristegui and her team had erred: “If the journalist did not consult on the alliance between MVS and the social platform Mexico Leaks, she made the first mistake,” said columnist Ricardo Rafael in the newspaper El Universal.
But there was widespread outrage because of the sharp tone used in the firings and the Mexican press’ history of subservience to governments through most of the 20th century. Aristegui’s program was a prominent example of how the news media was becoming more combative and independent.
“Carmen Aristegui is an indispensable voice in our public life,” said one of Mexico’s leading historians, Enrique Krauze, on his Twitter account. “Her departure from MVS seriously injures freedom of expression in Mexico.”
The firing of the two reporters who worked for her came a few months after they had embarrassed President Enrique Pena Nieto by revealing his wife was purchasing a house with financing from a frequent government contractor. Pena Nieto and his wife have denied any wrongdoing.
That report was one of several blows to the president’s image, including criticism of its investigation in the disappearance and presumed death of 43 teachers’ school students, who were apparently seized by city police and turned over to a drug gang.
Investigations and critical commentary on Aristegui’s program had made it enormously popular and her ouster prompted a wave of protest. A top trend on Twitter in Mexico on Monday was a series of messages calling for support of the journalist.
Several leading commentators said they would sever their ties with the broadcasting company.
“MVS terminates its relationship with Carmen Aristegui. I terminate my relationship with MVS,” said political analyst Denise Dresser.
Aristegui continues to have a daily program on CNN’s Spanish-language service.
She said Monday she would turn to her lawyers fight the firing — the second time she had been ousted by the company.
She had been taken off the air in February 2011 after reporting rumors of heavy alcohol use by former President Felipe Calderon. The company argued that violated its code of ethics, but later allowed her to return.
Pena Nieto’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the removal of Aristegui.