AMLO and Sheinbaum's Conference Reiterations

Firing Up the News Daily: The Controversial Tactics of AMLO's Press Conferences

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) has made headlines for his daily press conferences, a unique move in the political world. Since day one of his government, we've tracked over 1,400 of these conferences at SPIN, using transcriptions and videos from his YouTube channel. Analyzing the information systematically, we've unveiled the true nature of these press meetings—a propaganda machine rather than a beacon of transparency, information, or accountability. Here's why:

Tailoring the Agenda:Only less than 5 percent of the most significant national circulation newspapers cover the messages from the press conferences. Furthermore, these conferences have a weekly section that attempts to discredit reputable media organizations with substantial audiences and sponsors through false, misleading, or unverifiable claims, labeling published information as "unfavorable." AMLO follows the news, not the other way around. Regardless, his daily press meetings provide fodder for discussion, which is par for the course since he's the President of Mexico.
The Vanishing Viewers:Multiple times, President AMLO and his administration have claimed that millions watch these press conferences daily. However, the evidence paints a different picture. At SPIN, we analyzed the views on AMLO's Facebook page—his most followed social media platform—and found that less than 1 percent of his followers watch them daily, despite videos needing merely three seconds to be counted as "watched." It's normal for a politics program, which can be dull, repetitive, and not exactly newsworthy, to be ignored during busy hours.
Questions that Dance Around the Issues:AMLO selects who asks questions, often turning to social media influencers and bloggers—those sitting in the front rows (82 percent)—who may misinterpret questions and receive a pat on the back from AMLO for addressing a certain topic. Despite the president's nickname as a "communication genius," anyone could hold such frequent press conferences in a controlled environment.
Stirring the Pot, Not Fixing Crises:With an average of over 100 unsubstantiated claims per conference, AMLO prefers improvisation, dodging responses to government issues rather than addressing them head-on. Especially in matters related to security, the official versions presented in AMLO's press conferences have repeatedly shown a lack of information and coordination, negatively influencing the government's standing compared to other key players.

Claudia Sheinbaum, the incoming president, has stated that she will hold daily press conferences simultaneously with AMLO. Based on her campaign messages, debate statements, and press conferences as Mexico City's chief, candidate, and now president-elect, it seems she will replicate the format and content of AMLO's press conferences, prioritizing propaganda. As a result, we at SPIN have opted not to follow her press conferences. Sheinbaum's press conferences should serve as a platform for demonstrating her governing capacity, not for mimicking responsibility. We fear this opportunity won't be seized in the next six years, which will undoubtedly harm information, transparency, and accountability.

Socio-Director of SPIN. X: @luisestrada

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Additional Insights:- The critique of President AMLO's daily press conferences involves several key points, such as his favoritism towards social media influencers and bloggers over traditional journalists, attacks on journalists, undermining institutional checks, and promoting polarization [3].

These practices have raised concerns about threats to democratic norms and press freedom among journalists and media observers [3].

The controversial tactics of AMLO's press conferences have extended to policy-and-legislation, politics, and general news, as evidenced by the selective coverage of newspapers and the discrediting of reputable media organizations. These press conferences, verifiably watched by a minuscule percentage of AMLO's followers, serve as a propaganda tool rather than a conduit for transparency and accountability.

Claudia Sheinbaum's upcoming daily press conferences, replicating the format and content of AMLO's, could further perpetuate a lack of information, transparency, and accountability in the world of Mexican politics, ignoring opportunities to demonstrate governing capacity.