Mexico News: Journalists Fired For MexicoLeaks Controversy, Termination Causes Anger in Country
Carmen Aristegui, the popular host of Mexico's top-rated national news radio program, has been fired.
MVS Radio announced on Sunday that Aristegui was removed after she had challenged the firing of two of her colleagues.
Daniel Lizarraga and Irving Huerta, the reporters in question, were let go as they had misused the company's name by suggesting it was a sponsor of MexicoLeaks -- a website that reveal leaked information on corruption in Mexico.
Before they were fired, two reporters had embarrassed President Enrique Pena Nieto by revealing his wife was purchasing a luxury home with financing from a frequent government contractor.
Ricardo Rafael, a columnist quoted by the Associated Press, saw Arisegui's firing as warranted saying, "If the journalist did not consult on the alliance between MVS and the social platform Mexico Leaks, she made the first mistake."
There is however a widespread anger at Aristegui’s termination.
Mexico’s press has long had a history of pandering to the government, and Aristegui was seen as an example of how the news media was becoming more possible more combative and independent.
Enrique Krauze, one of Mexico's leading historians, said via his Twitter account that: "Carmen Aristegui is an indispensable voice in our public life." He added that: "Her departure from MVS seriously injures freedom of expression in Mexico."
Political analyst Denise Dresser voiced her displeasure by saying: "MVS terminates its relationship with Carmen Aristegui. I terminate my relationship with MVS."
Aristegui will continue to have a daily program on CNN's Spanish-language service.
On Monday, she announced that she would go to her lawyers in order to fight the firing.
As reported by CNN, Aristegui said: "Our lawyers say that we are going to fight this. Our lawyers say that this is an outrage against freedom of expression."
This is the second time Aristegui has been ousted by MVS media.
In February 2011, after reporting rumors of heavy alcohol use by former President Felipe Calderon, she was taken off the air.
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