ABSTRACT
Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democratic society and essential for the formation of an informed public opinion. A society that is not well informed is never totally free. This chapter examines the interplay of external and internal risks on press freedom in five Mexican states. The conclusions are based on a larger research project conducted with the civic association, Collective of Analysis of Security with Democracy (CASEDE) and the non-governmental organisation Freedom House, between 2014 and 2015. Sinaloa has been the home to Mexico's most important drug-trafficking groups for more than seventy years. Risks in Mexico City differ from those in the rest of the country and the capital has escaped the worst of the drug violence. Chiapas is one of the few states in the country with a Specialised Prosecutor's Office for Crimes Against Freedom of Expression, but the office's capacity for action is minimal.
