Mexican journalist Azucena Uresti. Photo: Google

By KELIN DILLON

Following the Jan. 20 announcement of prominent Mexican journalist Azucena Uresti’s “mutual” departure from Milenio Televisión to host a morning radio program for Grupo Formula, Uresti posted a video thanking Grupo Formula for supporting her during an era where Mexican journalism remains “under constant harassment and threat” on Monday, Jan. 22.

The journalist notably faced death threats from the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CNJG) during her time reporting at Milenio, which caused her to enter a federal protection program in 2021. 

Uresti’s Monday video message particularly thanked the president of Grupo Formula’s board of directors Jaime Azcárraga, “who amid this situation has given me his support and trust to grow professionally, always having freedom of expression and respect for human rights as fundamental values,” said the journalist.

“I am ready to continue participating in spaces that allow me to exercise this profession with the greatest freedom, in spaces where the voices of those who are systematically ignored are heard, where those who fight for their rights and for justice are heard; where excesses are denounced and abuses are denounced,” continued Uresti. “My conviction, always, is to be on the side of the citizens.” 

However, Uresti’s announced resignation from Milenio was deemed controversial after the journalist characterized her move away from the company as due to “current circumstances,” a word choice some analysts criticized as vague.

When questioned about Uresti’s switch from Milenio to Grupo Formula, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) requested that Uresti explain the “circumstances” surrounding her departure and refuted implications that it was because his administration censors journalists.

“I would like this journalist Uresti to say what those special circumstances are that she experienced that caused her to leave the television station, I hope she speaks,” said AMLO. “Now a journalist who leaves a television program saying it’s ‘due to circumstances’ gives the idea or implies that she was a victim of censorship.”

“No, we respect the right to free expression of ideas,” added López Obrador.