Violence against journalists in Mexico and the digital conversation on Twitter/X: implications for highlighting the vulnerability of journalism

Abstract

Introduction: Violence against journalists in Mexico has become a structural problem that affects both the safety of media professionals and public access to information. In this context, digital platforms, particularly Twitter/X, have served as spaces where violence is denounced and discussed. However, not all cases receive the same level of attention in digital conversations. This study examines how the visibility of murdered journalists varies depending on their professional profile and network connections, highlighting inequalities in the relevance assigned to certain cases within the digital ecosystem. Methodology: More than 2.5 million Twitter/X posts were analyzed between 2012 and 2021. The study combines network analysis techniques, data mining and digital ethnography to identify discursive patterns, most used tags and forms of hashtag activism. Results: The findings show that the visibility of a case is influenced by factors such as the career of journalists, their links with national media, professional solidarity and their centrality in professional networks. Discussion: A typology of profiles of murdered journalists is proposed, which can be grouped into three groups: a) Journalists with media visibility by career and by collaborating in national media; b) Local journalists, with a recognized track record and strong professional ties, and c) Liminal journalists with weak trade union ties. Conclusions: The results underline the need to critically analyze how relevance is constructed in the digitally mediated conversation about violence against the press. It is essential to develop strategies to give visibility to less recognized journalists and understand the mechanisms that perpetuate their invisibilization.