"Think celebrity mug shots, but live."
Alleged drug cartel members Jose Manuel Garcia Simental, center left, and Raydel "Crutches" Lopez Uriarte, center right, together with two unidentified men, are guarded by federal police as they are presented to the media in Mexico City. (Alexandre Meneghini / Associated Press / February 9, 2010)
This past week, the Los Angeles Times published yet another piece regarding Mexico's infamous drug wars. This time, however, the focus was a bit different...dealing with the media coverage of the drug cartel itself.
According to the article, it seems that in a collaborative effort to curb high crime statistics brought upon by the narcos and to fulfill consequent safety concerns the nation faces, Mexican officials have quickly latched on to the trend of publicizing and openly showcasing their successes by incorporating local news reporters, photographers, and live stream coverage of them capturing the criminals.
"La Presentacion", (as it is known in Spanish) has its critics, though. Some have pointed out that ultimately, such an explicit exposure, even of criminals, threads on humanitarian boundaries. Moreover, some insist the inherent bias the public would adopt, leaving little room for the accused criminals to plead innocence once showcased in this manner.
What do you think?
Check out the full article here
Interesting. Who owns the media in Mexico? Is the Mexican media affected by concentration of ownership? How?
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