Two content creators were recently murdered.
Two content creators were recently murdered.
Miami (July 11, 2025) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) urges Mexican authorities to guarantee the safety of journalists Óscar Balderas and Luis Chaparro, who have reported receiving death threats after publishing investigations on organized crime. The organization also calls for a thorough, timely, and transparent investigation to identify those responsible for the threats and bring them to justice.
Journalist Óscar Balderas, a contributor to Milenio and an expert in public security and organized crime, reported on July 4 via his X social media account that he had received death threats: “For the record: today I received three calls from a private number telling me they’re going to kill me if I keep investigating organized crime,” he wrote, according to El Universal. Balderas has previously worked with Animal Político, La Saga, Vice News, Univision, and MVS Noticias, and has documented the activities of drug cartels such as the Sinaloa and CJNG, according to media reports.
Meanwhile, journalist Luis Chaparro, a reporter for Pie de Página with a long history of covering drug trafficking along Mexico’s northern border, also reported receiving threats on July 6. Chaparro has contributed to outlets including Vice News, Proceso, and CNN, according to local reports.
Despite the fear, both Balderas and Chaparro reaffirmed their commitment to journalism and made public appeals not to be left alone, urging others to raise awareness of their cases as a way to protect those who dare to tell the truth.
The IAPA President José Roberto Dutriz, CEO and general director of La Prensa Gráfica in El Salvador, expressed deep concern over the cases: “The threats against Óscar Balderas and Luis Chaparro reflect the extreme danger journalists face in Mexico. Fear must not be allowed to silence journalism, which is vital to society.”
Martha Ramos, Chair of the IAPA’s Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information and Editorial Director of Organización Editorial Mexicana (OEM), stressed the need for swift action. “We urge authorities to launch prompt, impartial, and thorough investigations to clarify the facts and establish accountability. We also echo the journalists’ call: media outlets must give visibility to these cases as a tool for protection and a show of professional solidarity.”
As further evidence of Mexico’s widespread violence, two content creators were recently killed. According to Vanguardia, on July 9, Ronald Paz Pedro was shot dead in Acapulco, Guerrero, shortly after a live broadcast on his Facebook page NotiExpress, where he reported on citizen complaints, violence, and crime stories. On July 7, Ángel Sevilla, director of the digital outlet Noticias 644, was killed while covering an armed attack in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora. The IAPA is continuing to gather information to determine whether these incidents are connected to their journalistic work.
The IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.