In Mexico’s Drug War

Social Media Becomes the New Front

Jacqueline MatterYour Affiliation: Senior,

UNC Chapel Hill1

Jacqueline MatterIntroduction

Journalism & Media Inspired by diverse aspects of communication

My Journey into

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Born in Tacoma, WAGrew up in San Clemente, CA

Interned at News 14 Carolina, WNCN-NBC-17, WRAL , Cleveland Indians

My interest: anything with the beach

Your Affiliation: Senior, UNC Chapel Hill

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• Narco-Censorship – censorship where reporters & editors are forced to write what drug traffickers want them to write, or simply refrain from publishing the entire truth out of fear of being killed.

• As drug war reaches new heights…so does their ability to pay off journalists. “chayote”- payoff to a journalist in exchange for favorable coverage or no coverage at all.

The Fall of Traditional News Media in Mexico

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5Committee to Protect Journalistshttp://cpj.org/2011/02/attacks-on-the-press-2010-americas-analysis.php

“You love journalism, you love the pursuit of turth, you love to perform a civic service and inform your community. But you love your life more.” – Anonymous Editor from Reynosa

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• “Narcomensajes” – Narcomessages, signs that have been written by members of a drug cartel shared on social media that are accompanied by a horrifically disfigured human being.

• Intended for digital reproduction and communication to YouTube, Twitter or other social media platforms.

• These messages come during a time when more and more Mexicans are able to access the Internet, making the spread of them more prevalent.

• Many cartels have analysts that monitor social media to track what citizens and journalists are reporting about them.

• Cyber laws are lacking in Mexico, however cartels are becoming more tech-savvy. As fast as Facebook & Twitter accounts get taken down, they get put back up.

Drug Cartels Infiltrate Social Media

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• Exploiting power by using Internet to run public campaigns, posting images with pistols or elaborate gifts, and hunting down targets on social media.

• “Broly” obtains a kidnapped victim who is blindfolded and stuffed in the back seat.

• “They do this to intimidate and silence us. But we are not afraid, we will continue to fight.” – Anonymous News Source

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• Drug Cartels have also been using social media to recruit new members, specifically teenagers.

• The lavish lifestyle attract them to follow in their footsteps.

Mexican Citizens Combat Drug Cartels via Social Media

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• “Chuy” was one of the first citizen journalists to cover the issue and release it to the world via social media.

• He has acted as a vigilante by taking to Twitter to inform local citizens of cartel activity in his town.

• Because traditional media outlets have been silenced by trafficker’s power, Mexican citizens have taken the initiative into their own hands to stop the violent acts of narcotic kingpins.

• However;Their efforts were compromised by the government in 2011 after a law had been passed in the state of Veracruz that made it illegal to use Twitter and other social networks that could cause an uproar of public order.

• Why?A rumor spread via Twitter that gunmen had taken over a local elementary school and was widely reported through social media. Thus, resulting in chaos and traffic jams throughout the city and even a death. One citizen tweeted about it and was even thrown in jail.

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“It wasn’t the sight of tortured bodies that scared ‘Chuy.’ It was what was written on the sign that was left next to them. ‘This will happen to all the Internet snitches.’ It was signed by Los Zetas.”- CNN article in regards to “Chuy”

Source: Therightperspective.org

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Four Videos onMy Research Topic

Title for Video#1: Social Media Becomes the New Front in Mexico’s Drug Ware (YouTube Video of Nov. 09, 2014)

Web address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtWI1JbSQto

Brief description: This 2:40 minute video features a look at how journalists and citizen journalists have become victims in the drug cartel’s silencing of the media.

The source: Created by Jacqueline Matter at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Title for Video#2: Murdered for Tweeting in Mexico (Oct. 27, 2014)Web address: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-29746651Brief description: In Tamaulipas, one of Mexico’s most violent states, people use social media to get basic information. The drug cartels have silenced traditional news media. But the cartels are now turning their attention to prominent social media users as well. The source: Covered by Greg Brosnan for BBC America

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Four Videos onMy Research Topic

Title for Video#3: Two women journalists brutally murdered in Mexico City (Sep 1, 2011)

Web address:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz-5G3iVGbM

Brief description: Mexican authorities investigated the murder of two women journalists whose bodies were found in a park east of Mexico City.

The source: teleSur English News Channel

Title for Video#4: Murders of Mexican Journalist Skyrocket ( July 19, 2012)

Web address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n30iE4BHGyo

Brief description: Professor Pablo Piccato speaks about the challenges facing Mexico’s new president and the freedom of journalism

The source: ColumbiaNews

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Title for Web Site#2: Road to justice: Breaking cycle of impunity. (Oct 28, 2014Web address: https://www.cpj.org/americas/mexico/Brief description: Despite increased attention to murders of journalists, governments still fail to take action. This report looks at specific numbers of journalists killed in Mexico. The source: Elizabeth Witchel, founder of CPJ’s Global Campaign Against Impunity

Title for Web site: Under Threat from Mexican drug cartels, reporters go silent. Web address: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/aug/16/world/la-fg-mexico-narco-censorship-20100816Brief description: Journalists know drug traffickers can easily kidnap or kill them – and get away with it. Wilkinson reports on how and why this is happening. The source: Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times

Four Web Sites onMy Research Topic

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Four Web Sites onMy Research Topic

Title for Web Site#3: Residents turn to social media to fight Mexico cartel violence. (March 5, 2012)Web address: http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/05/world/americas/mexico-narco-bloggers/Brief description: This report features a specific citizen who felt it was his duty to report on the terror of drug cartels in his city. The source: CNN

Title for Web site: Drug Cartels in Mexico Now Using Twitter, Facebook as Recruitment Tool (Dec 02, 2013)Web address:http://www.latintimes.com/drug-cartels-mexico-now-using-twitter-facebook-recruitment-tool-135612Brief description: Drug cartels have been turning to social media to recruit new members, the majority of them being teenagers. This report looks at their lavish lifestyle and recruitment methods. The source: Donovan Longo for LatinTimes