Diego Ruiz Duran: Can a” Journalists’ freedom” exist in Mexico? As the saying goes, “Journalism is the free press’ right. But, does the government own the media in Mexico?
The opinion varies, but some say that the media in Mexico is one of the freest in the world. However, there are dual sides to every question. Some say that the Mexican government controls all media activities in the country. Mexico has only two media centers: Televisa and Televise TV, and satellite stations.
Still, those same governments have supported many measures to control the Internet and media operations further. For example, they block blogs, news reports, and other forms of social media. They often bar non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from appearing on their airwaves or claiming public or private rights.
Censorship
Many see censorship as a threat to the rule of law in Mexico, even the lawyers like Diego Ruiz Duran. The Constitution of the country guarantees freedom of speech, press, and media. With the introduction of the Internet, many more Mexican citizens feel that the media does not serve their needs well enough.
Some see a conflict between the media and government, claiming that the media does not necessarily represent the masses’ will.
Lastly, the question is not whether or not the press has a right to exist in Mexico, but how the government balances its interests with the freedoms of citizens to choose information and opinion.
Many scholars, activists, and lawyers like Diego Ruiz Duran argue that one of the reasons for censorship in the country was the emergence of television and radio as mass mediums. This means that the Mexican government didn’t have a large percentage of ownership in the media before the creation of satellite and cable networks.
Thus, although they had some control over the press, they weren’t as powerful as you might believe. Indeed, one could say that they are no more censorship than we would expect in a modern democracy.
Internet
However, some wonder whether the Internet makes a difference at all. There is some debate over whether or not the Internet influences the political system in Mexico. Proponents of Internet censorship in Mexico note that the Internet is essentially an American phenomenon.
Americans have always debated what impact the Internet has on public consciousness and government. On one side of the argument, you find those who champion free speech and Internet free-for-all. On the other hand, there are those who are concerned about potential abuses of power due to the government’s position, and the large number of surveillance devices that are available to the public.
Naturally, both sides of this debate have strong points, and the Mexican government will likely consider regulating the Internet in some fashion.
How the law classifies media outlets in Mexico?
Another interesting issue is how the law will classify media outlets in Mexico. Will there be a media monopoly? The media system has had a significant fluctuation in the past decade, showing how deeply entrenched media culture is in Mexico. This law raises many questions about the definition of citizen media and how citizens will have access to free speech online. These are important issues that need to be addressed, but I will save them until another post.
What You Need to Know About Mexican Entertainment Laws
The Mexican entertainment law, on the other hand, is much more restrictive. It makes it more difficult to import a film from Mexico into the United States if you want to watch a Mexican movie. This, of course, implies that if you want to watch a Mexican film, you must also understand some basic Spanish.
Copyrights Laws
Copyright laws are often compared to American copyright laws, but they are pretty different. Since Mexico has open sources of copyrighted materials, copying this material and distributing it is illegal.
While some people and lawyers like Diego Ruiz Duran might consider that Mexican law is too lenient on its performers, it protects Mexican artists and their works.
