Mexican journalist killed amid rising media death toll

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A Mexican journalist was assassinated in the central state of Guanajuato while working at his family's bar, the latest fatality in a terrible year for the country's media.

Ernesto Mendez, the founder of the local newspaper "Tu Voz" had previously received threats, according to a tweet from human rights organization Article 19.

Article 19 called on local authorities to consider the crime as related to his work as a journalist.

"With Ernesto, that adds up to 13 murders of journalists in 2022, at least nine of those tied to their work," the organization said.

Mendez, along with three others, was killed in a shooting late Tuesday, according to local media, and two others were injured. "It was a direct (attack)," Article 19 regional director Leopoldo Maldonado told Reuters.

The governor of Guanajuato condemned the killing on Twitter, referring to Mendez as a "businessman and journalist."

According to a report by Article 19, violence against media workers in Mexico has increased dramatically under the government of current President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Journalist murdered in Mexico, 12th this year

Earlier, a Mexican reporter was shot dead in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas, according to the newspaper Expreso where he worked.

Antonio de la Cruz was the 12th journalist killed so far this year in Mexico. In his posts on social media, he had frequently denounced alleged acts of corruption by politicians.

"Faced with this new act of violence, the publishing group Expreso-La Razon demands justice from authorities at all levels," the newspaper said.

It is noteworthy that more than 150 journalists have been murdered since 2000 in Mexico, with only a fraction of the crimes resulting in convictions.

The victims are often reporters working for local media in states riven by drug cartel-related violence and US arms flow.

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