The Mexico Institute was glad to host a discussion on the current state of crime and violence in Mexico and how it has affected journalism and freedom of speech in Mexico. This discussion featured Javier Arturo Valdez Cárdenas, a prominent Mexican journalist. Valdez has become one of the leading chroniclers of drug trafficking, organized crime and associated violence in Mexico and on November 22nd, will receive the International Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Escalating violence in Mexico has made the task of reporting on crime and violence difficult and dangerous.  In 2003, Javier Arturo Valdez Cárdenas, together with reporters from the daily Noroeste, founded Ríodoce, a weekly publication covering crime and corruption in Sinaloa, one of Mexico's most violent states.

Furthermore, the discussion featured commentary by Dolia Estévez, Senior Mexico Correspondent and foreign affairs analyst and Carlos Lauría, Senior Program Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists.