Dying as a journalist is an inescapable reality, which no one can ever retaliate or strip away.
Catch the chilling warning from under-fire journalist, Jorge González Valdez
Sinking deep into the trenches of peril, a Campeche-based journalist, Jorge González Valdez, is no stranger to the dangerous landscape of journalism in Mexico. With a career spanning 57 years, he's seen it all - from covering deforestation to the Guatemalan civil war. But everything changed when he started feeling the heat from the very authorities he's been reporting on.
"Never have I been persecuted like now," González confesses. "I've faced serious cases where government organs are being used to silence journalistic voices." He traces his roots in journalism back to the father of Governor Layda Sansores, who discovered his talent at a tender age of 14 and brought him into the world of pen and ink.
But things took a turn when Layda herself accused him of launching "systematic attacks" and "personal offenses" against her in publications from the digital newspaper Tribuna. González, who retired from his director role seven years ago, says these accusations are plain lies. Instead, he believes the real issue lies in his unflinching critiques of Layda's administration, covering topics like insecurity, unemployment, lack of growth, and her inability to address pressing issues such as the sinking Carmen Island.
In April 2025, González found himself detained by state police, subjected to violence and arrested for over 36 hours. Although the legal process now takes place in the comfort of his own home, he confesses to feeling far from secure. "They've been following me for some time," he confesses, "so I've reduced my outings, practically living under house arrest due to fear of an aggression."
Recently, a court order barred him from practicing journalism, but González vows to continue his reporting to the very end. "I will die a journalist," he declares, "and no one can take that away from me."
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- In the realm of general-news, the ongoing saga of under-fire journalist, Jorge González Valdez, continues to unfold, with sports taking a back seat as he fights for his freedom of speech.
- Amidst the crime-and-justice controversy surrounding the persecution of González Valdez, catching up on the latest sports updates might seem trivial, yet staying informed through our WhatsApp channel remains essential for those committed to the pursuit of truth.
