Mexican journalist in Barcelona speaks out despite threats

Yanely Fuentes, currently in Catalan capital as part of 'Barcelona protects Mexican journalists' program, also participated in 'Cities defending humans rights'

Mexican Diario Alternativo journalist Yanely Fuentes speaking to Catalan News at a 'Cities defending humans rights' event (by Cristina Tomàs White)
Mexican Diario Alternativo journalist Yanely Fuentes speaking to Catalan News at a 'Cities defending humans rights' event (by Cristina Tomàs White) / Cristina Tomàs White

Cristina Tomàs White | Barcelona

December 3, 2019 02:58 PM

Mexican journalist Yanely Fuentes, who works for the Diario Alternativo newspaper from the Costa Chica region of the state of Guerrero, is used to receiving threats from people unhappy with her work, but even that hasn’t stopped her from reporting on marginalized communities. 

Fuentes, who is currently in the Catalan capital as part of the 'Barcelona protects Mexican journalists' program organized by the city council and Taula per Mèxic and who also participated in 'Cities defending humans rights', spoke to Catalan News about the situation in her home country: "Journalism in Mexico has been hit badly."

According to Reporters Without Borders, Mexico is "Latin America’s most dangerous country for reporters," a statement that Fuentes has confirmed by describing how journalists - as well as human rights defenders - frequently find themselves under threat in a country that has seen 10 journalists murdered in 2019 to date.