EDITORIAL: AMLO and the media

By Armando García

The Mexican press, no matter who is in power, whether right or left, conservative or liberal, is accommodated to operate without repression or without violating that freedom of speech.

For almost all the revolutionary period and for sure since the time of the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz, there has been the press manipulated by the government in turn, and the media that did not conform to the wishes of the president, faced cutting off the paper supply, or the suspension of licenses to electronic media. Until the murder of journalists who did not agree, with their reports, the interests, of what President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), has called the mafia in power.

Under his administration, the so-called Mafia is no longer in power, but it still exists, and there is no doubt that it is the one manipulates certain journalists or media to discredit the policy of the fourth transformation of Mexico that encourages López Obrador, in order to eradicate the evil policies or social ills accumulated by more than a century in the country.

Obrador does not have it easy, in just over 100 days, has begun to change the habits and customs of previous administrations representative of the political powers of the PRI and PAN parties that are now a minority in the National Congress.

The primary objective of Obrador, is to end government corruption, from top to bottom. This will make social programs to support marginalized sectors reach directly the people who need it most. In addition to making the country live on what the field produces, what the country produces in its factories and stop importing its gasoline with the construction of new refineries; etc.

Obrador has been the subject of criticism from renowned journalists, which is obviously by their questions, they represent special interest in making Obrador look bad. During the administrations of the PAN party, the idea that AMLO was a danger to Mexico was being handled and promoted by those in power, and the media played a role in AMLO losing his presidential bid.

In the years 2007 and 2008 there was a blatant manipulation undertaken by businessmen, politicians and media owners to prevent López Obrador from reaching the Presidency. Obrador was the politician most attacked by the media and his most fervent opponents in power. And when Enrique Pena Nieto ran for president, Andrés Manuel was again the target of criticism, the victim of an operation by PRI, PAN and media to block his candidacy.

Already in power, AMLO, has mentioned the history of media corruption in the country, focusing in those who belong to his adversaries. He called them the media 'fifí', a term used a hundred years ago when President Francisco I. Madero was assassinated, and his house was burned. The media at that time was in favor of the interests opposed to the revolution.

Of course, we must recognize that AMLO has broken the communicative habits of the previous presidents. But as a journalist, there is no doubt that our job is to inform and criticize with veracity, not to applaud constantly whoever is the president. But I think we should not ask tendentious questions to raise our ego or increase our curriculum, or by obeying the orders of our bosses in the media opposed to the policy of the AMLO government.