Another Mexico Journalist Killed Ahead of Press Freedom Day

Mexican radio journalist Filiberto Alvarez was shot dead last weekend in the state of Morelos, local media reported Tuesday, a day before World Press Freedom Day.

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Alvarez, 65, was shot five times by unidentified gunmen after leaving his evening radio program, which he ran for about two years, Mexico’s Animal Politico reported. The broadcast journalist was later transferred to a nearby hospital in Jojutla, where he was pronounced dead.

His program, “Poems and Songs,” spotlighted Mexico’s rich literary and musical tradition on Morelos’ Radio La Señal, connecting them to current events.

“With grief and indignation I inform that the poet and radio show host was assassinated,” Mexican journalist Carlos Felix wrote on Twitter.

Alvarez is the fifth journalist killed in Mexico this year, exemplifying rising violence against representatives of the increasingly dangerous profession.

On April 14, veteran Mexican journalist Maximino Rodriguez Palacios was shot and killed outside of a store in Baja California. Rodriguez, who covered police investigations and organized crime, was shot as he arrived in his car with his wife around noon, Colectivo Pericu reported.

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On March 23, La Jornada senior correspondent Miroslava Breach was shot and killed outside of her home in Chihuahua, where murderers reportedly left a menacing message. She worked as a correspondent for the paper for over 15 years and specialized in covering politics and security around northern Mexico.

On March 19, El Politico editor Ricardo Monlui Cabrera was shot and killed in Veracruz while leaving a restaurant with his wife and son. Monlui wrote a column covering area politics and the sugarcane industry.

And on March 2, freelance journalist Cecilio Pineda was shot dead in Guerrero state as he lay resting in a hammock. Months before his death, Pineda denounced constant death threats he received from organized crime groups over his coverage of their activities, Proceso reports.

Mexico is ranked third in the world for the number of journalists killed per year, Reporters Without Borders reports. The Latin American country follows Syria and Afghanistan in crimes against journalists.