Leading Mexican Journalist Carmen Aristegu Fired by Radio Station Jose de Cordoba - WSJ.com
go to original March 16, 2015

On her radio show on Friday, Mexican journalist Carmen Aristegui, pictured on March 24, 2012, said the firing of her two colleagues was an attack on press freedom, and called for the “unconditional” reinstatement of the two journalists. (Reuters)

A Mexican media company has fired one of the country’s leading journalists whose investigative team broke an alleged conflict of interest story involving the acquisition of a mansion by the wife of President Enrique Peña Nieto.

MVS Radio, a unit of broadcaster MVS Comunicaciones, said in a statement on Sunday night that it had “ended its relationship” with Carmen Aristegu because the company refused to accept Ms. Aristegui’s demands that it reinstate two journalists from her team that were fired last Thursday.

“We lament (Aristegui’s) position, but as a company we can’t accept conditions and ultimatums from people who work with us,” MVS Radio said.

Last week, the company said it had fired the two journalists, Daniel Lizárraga and Irving Huerta, because the investigative team headed by Ms. Aristegui had joined with five other Mexican media outlets and two civic groups to launch a website, Mexicoleaks, where whistleblowers could send tips to combat official corruption. The Mexicoleaks website lists Aristegui Unit/MVS as one of the sponsors.

But, MVS said, the Aristegui team announced its support for Mexicoleaks without seeking the company’s permission. The broadcaster quickly published full page ads in newspapers saying the use of MVS’s logo in support of Mexicoleaks was illegal and deceived the public.

On her radio show on Friday, Ms. Aristegui said the firing of her two colleagues was an attack on press freedom, and called for the “unconditional” reinstatement of the two journalists.

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