BORDER EDITORS SUMMIT ENDS, PUBLISHER SAYS MEXICO 'CLOUDED' IN
GRIMNESS

A prominent Mexican publisher painted a bleak picture of conditions in
Mexico, while stressing that he plans to continue covering all aspects
of the country with long-term improvement in mind.

Alejandro Junco de la Vega, chairman and CEO of Grupo Reforma, which
publishes several major dailies in Mexico, said Mexico "is a country
clouded in a grimness of its own ... Our world seems to be the stuff
of nightmares."

Junco said one of his reporters in the state of Nuevo Leon recently
was kidnapped but was found alive after his news organization reported
the abduction to police, the military and other officials.

The reporter had called his newsroom to report that he was concerned
because he was being followed. Then he disappeared.

"If you stand in the way of control of the town or region, the
terrorists want you gone," Junco said. "They will make that happen,
either with silver or with lead."

Junco was the keynote speaker Monday at the Border Newspapers Editors
Summit at the University of Texas at El Paso.

The conference brought together journalists from the United States,
Mexico and Central and South America, as well as academics and other
experts, to discuss the attacks against journalists in Mexico.

At least 24 journalists have been murdered in Mexico during the past
four years, an unprecedented number, with 15 mayors slain in the past
two years.

Gustavo Salas Chavez, Mexico's federal special prosecutor for crimes
against freedom of expression; Adriana Gomez Licon, an El Paso Times
reporter; and Angela Kocherga, border bureau chief for Belo TV news,
were also among Monday's presenters.

Junco, who was forced to move to Texas because of threats from drug
cartel members, said it is important to report on Mexico in a
comprehensive manner. He introduced his talk with a video of a woman
called "Perla" who expresses rage over myriad problems in Mexico.

The media executive said his news organization has taken some steps to
protect staffers who report on the drug wars, including dropping
bylines, changing routines and moving editors to apartments with security.

He said corruption is so extensive in his country that there is even a
"tortilla market" cartel.

He cautioned against seeking simple solutions to fix the country's
ailments. For example, he said, eliminating all drug dealers involved
in the wave of violence will not improve education, develop judicial
and police systems free of corruption, increase global
competitiveness, or end business monopolies.

However, "it is not in my nature to be defeatist," Junco said.
"Reporting of the truth is what helped make your country great,"
referring to the United States.

During a question-answer session, El Paso Times Publisher and
President Sergio Salinas asked Junco whether he believed another
revolution would take place in Mexico. The country is observing the
100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution of 1910.

Junco said no, because the citizens of Mexico are not to the point of
suffering widespread hunger and poverty, conditions that he said could
lead to a revolt. "We're suffering from civic, moral and economic
malnutrition," he said.

But, "I truly believe these troubles can pass," Junco said. "I do
believe one day we can have the peace and prosperity all of us so
firmly hope for. So much is wrong, yet I believe in the human capacity
for greatness, even in the face of extreme adversity."

Nathan Coleman, who has a bachelor's degree in electronic
communications from UTEP, said such a conference is helpful for
journalists. He said he wants the border press to continue reporting
on the drug wars.

"I want to know what is happening in Mexico because it does affect us
here in El Paso," Coleman said.

The American Society of News Editors, the InterAmerican Press
Association, UTEP, the Ford Foundation, The Associated Press and the
El Paso Times were co-sponsors of the summit.