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Publication Date

Spring 2023

Degree Type

Thesis - Campus Access Only

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Journalism and Mass Communications

Advisor

Nisha Garud-Patkar

Subject Areas

Journalism

Abstract

In recent years, the pressure on Mexican journalists has increased due to rampant misinformation, especially from presidential sources, who discredit journalists and call them fake, setting off unprecedented violence against the press. Mexico is considered the most violent country in the world for journalists, including countries with active war zones. In such an anti-press atmosphere, Mexican journalists are forced to rethink their societal roles and news-gathering practices. The study explores the question: How do Mexican journalists function in a misinformed and violent society? The study surveyed 77 Mexican journalists from Mexico City to understand their (i) perceptions of their journalistic roles and values; (ii) motivations to fact-check and debunk misinformation, and (iii) engagement in professional practices to prevent misinformation. Results indicate that journalism practices are not negatively affected by misinformation as much as they are by violence and harassment, and journalists continue to advocate for democracy and truth-seeking despite the heightened violence in Mexico. However, in a highly polarized country like Mexico, journalists do not regularly practice fact checking, an increasingly essential tool in modern media. Future research should focus on implementing in-depth interviews and recruiting participants from other parts of the country to obtain a more representative picture of the levels of violence and misinformation milieu in Mexico and their impact on Mexican journalism.

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