In Mexico, the media has taken actions into their own hands, trying to negotiate with the drug cartels because the government is unable to protect its citizens and more specifically the journalists. From the violence of the Mexican drug cartels infiltrating Ciudad Juarez claiming it Mexico’s bloodiest city. The murder of young photographer Santiago by the drug lords is not the only one like this; more than thirty journalists have been killed in the past four years. After the drug cartels brutally murdered a young photographer intern, Santiago, El Diario, the Ciudad Juarez newspaper, published a front page editorial demanding “We want you to explain to us what you want from us.” In acknowledgment of the cartels as “de facto authorities in this city,” el Diario was different than any other media coverage because this newspaper took things to the extreme.  The media is questioning their actions of going about covering the drug cartels, for the risk of their lives. Most media have silenced themselves because of fear and intimidation of the drug lords.  The Mexican government has responded by criticizing acts of violence towards the media, but it dismisses the idea of negotiation with the cartels.International groups met Wednesday, September 22, with President Calderon to demand greater protection of journalists. Since February 2006, Mexico has had a federal prosecutor specifically in charge of investigating crimes against journalists. However, since the establishment of this office, it has opened 68 investigations, but only one of the investigations resulted in a conviction.

Mexico is unable to provide the basic public goods and services to its citizens because the drug cartels have undermined the system. According to O’Neil, the cartels are “a small number of producers that, although each individually is unable to dominate a market, collaborate to do so together.” Mexico is failing to control the cartels and their massive killing spree against the citizens. The drug lords are willing to annihilate anyone that is in their way, whether that is ordinary citizens, governmental officials, or journalists. Because the Mexican government is unable to protect its citizens, the legitimacy of the state is questioned. This article proves this lack of legitimacy because instead of turning to the government for help, the media is pleading with the drug cartels to stop the violence. The media is taking on the problem in their own hands, recognizing that the state lacks both the power and authority to stop the cartels. The role of the media in a functioning government/state is to hold government officials accountable. The media is a vital part of a working political system. It is a resourceful way for the public to be aware of governmental workings. It allows free flowing information to expose different aspects of the current events. In Mexico, the media is exposing the drug cartels; however, with the intimidation of the drug lords, the media is censoring itself. Therefore, the media is not able to complete its job by exposing the information and holding the government accountable.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/world/americas/21mexico.html?_r=1&hp