Reframing Investigative Journalism in Mexico: Towards a Transformative Practice Rubén Irving Huerta Zapién Goldsmiths, University of London A thesis submitted for the degree of PhD in Politics 2020 1 Declaration I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person, nor material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma of the university or other institute of higher learning, except where due acknowledgement has been made in the text. Rubén Irving Huerta Zapién 3 September 2020 2 Acknowledgements This research would not have been possible without the generous scholarship from Mexico’s National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), to which I express all my gratitude. I would like to thank my supervisors, Francisco Carballo and Natalie Fenton, for all their support, incredible hard work, and kind but rigorous guidance throughout this quest. I also would like to thank scholars from Goldsmiths and other universities in the UK and Mexico, with whom I discussed different ideas and aspects of this research, including Carl Levy, Sanjay Seth, Des Freedman, Carlos Bravo, Primavera Téllez, and Mireya Márquez-Ramírez. As well as other Mexican scholars who encouraged me to pursue this degree, like Manuel Alejandro Guerrero, Lorenzo Meyer, and Raúl Trejo. I cannot thank enough Periodistas de a Pie, for their generosity and even comradery, because without their eyes and minds, it would have been impossible to even sense the struggle journalists have to go through in Mexico. Likewise, I would like to give thanks to the Forensic Architecture team that worked in the Plataforma Ayotzinapa project, but particularly to Eyal Weizman, whose creative mind has been a big stimulant to expand the boundaries of investigative work. Also, to the Centre for Investigative Journalism, and the people working there who kindly included me in projects and talks, like Matt Kennard, Tom Sanders, and James Harkin. 3 I also would like to thank other PhD researchers who became crucial friends during this time: Tom Henderson, Rodrigo Arteaga, Mabel Meneses, Peter Rees, Carla Ibled, and Alexis Rosim. I pay tribute to the journalists in Mexico who are still investigating in spite of threats and appalling conditions. But I especially owe an acknowledgement to my former colleagues, Carmen Aristegui, Daniel Lizárraga, Rafael Cabrera, and Sebastián Barragán, with whom I share — more than a story of censorship — a story of mutual support and collaboration. Finally, I give thanks to my parents, Rubén and Margarita, for their unconditional love. 4 Abstract This thesis is about the dangers of following the path of a model for investigative journalism in Mexico based on the 20th Century North American corporate model of the press, anchored in neoliberal ideology in the middle of raising violence. Its entrepreneurial character and market orientation have endangered journalists’ labour rights and the right to freedom of information for all. It is situated in my own experience as a practicing investigative journalist who is deeply dissatisfied with the existing circumstances of journalism in Mexico, but who recognises the necessity of finding a means to reveal human suffering and corruption. The thesis examines the following questions: How is investigative journalism in Mexico constrained by the national media system and multiple political forces? How can we escape neoliberal practices that endanger the purpose of investigative journalism in the public interest? Where and how should investigations be deployed if they are to be truly investigative and truly transformative? These questions are tackled using a conjunctural analysis that situates the analysis historically and politically in the context of Mexico. The state of investigative journalism is considered as part of this conjuncture and the multiple influences on investigative journalistic practice are discussed. The empirical study is based on two case studies and 41 semi-structured interviews with 39 individuals. The two case studies are: a) a singular group of journalists doing independent investigations in radical collaboration, called Periodistas de a Pie; b) an investigative tool called Plataforma Ayotzinapa, created by the research agency Forensic Architecture. 5 The thesis advances the use of “a framework for transformative investigations” as a possible way out of the impasse investigative journalism in Mexico finds itself in. This framework has three dimensions: 1) A turn to political action; 2) A communitarian solidarity; and 3) A humanitarian truth production. 6 Table of Contents Preface ............................................................................................................. 11 Introduction .................................................................................................... 22 -A Brief Introduction to the Research Design ................................................... 36 -Overview ................................................................................................................ 42 Chapter 1: The Idea of Investigative Journalism in Mexico: Definitions and Ethics in Journalism Models ...................................................................... 46 -Introduction ........................................................................................................... 46 1.1 Definitions of Investigative Journalism ....................................................... 49 -Morality: Muckrakers and the Mexican Advocates ............................................................ 50 -The Mexican Modern Reporter ............................................................................................ 53 -The Revelation of Wrongdoing for Emancipation .............................................................. 56 -Technique: Watergate and the Mexican King’s Prophets ................................................ 58 -Ideology-Free: The Assumed Neoliberal Ideology ............................................................ 61 -Big Data: Technology in Pursuit of the ObJective Truth .................................................... 67 1.2. IJ’s and Ethics in Different Journalism Models ......................................... 75 -Conclusions .......................................................................................................... 83 Chapter 2: Political Economy of IJ in Mexico ............................................ 86 -Introduction ........................................................................................................... 86 2.1. The Media Model in Neoliberal Times in Mexico ....................................... 89 -The “Invisible Tyranny” and the Captured Media Model .................................................. 91 -Funding: Saving the Business, not the Journalists ........................................................... 94 -Attacks on the Press ............................................................................................................ 100 -Corrupt Practices .................................................................................................................. 103 7 2.2. Legal Frameworks ........................................................................................ 106 -Telecommunications Reform .............................................................................................. 107 -Journalistic Content and the Legal Void ........................................................................... 112 -Conclusions ........................................................................................................ 117 Chapter 3: Methodology ............................................................................. 120 -Introduction ......................................................................................................... 120 3.1 Clearing the Way for Research .................................................................... 123 -Critical Realism ..................................................................................................................... 123 -ConJunctural Analysis .......................................................................................................... 133 3.2 Specific Methods ........................................................................................... 137 i) First Case Study: Periodistas de a Pie ............................................................................ 137 ii) Second Case Study: FA’s Plataforma Ayotzinapa ....................................................... 151 iii) Expert Interviews (other semi-structured interviews) .................................................. 161 iv) Other Reflective Work ...................................................................................................... 166 -Limitations of this Methodology .......................................................................................... 167 -Conclusions ........................................................................................................ 168 Chapter 4: PdP’s Political/Investigative Practices .................................. 170 -Introduction ......................................................................................................... 170 -Experiencing Mexico’s Political, Economic, and Media Systems .............. 173 -Worse Labour Conditions, Worse IJ ..............................................................