Mexico is infamous for being one of the most dangerous countries for journalists and since 2000 already 20 have been killed and 8 kidnapped. These are the statistics of death and disappearances only. The amount of journalists who are harrassed, abused, threatened, and strongarmmed into silence around the nation by both corrupt officials and menacing drug cartels may never fully be known.

On 2 April 2009, the Mexican Congress’s Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved an initiative to make crimes against journalists a federal offence, with the objective of protecting freedom of expression and the work of journalists.
-ifex.org

This initiative has been in the works, but was stalled on the technicality of What defines a journalists? Does the said writer have to work for a well known, reputable media source to be considered a true journalists? Does the writer need to support government/political agendas to be considered a protection worthy journalists? Does the writer need to be published, paid professional? Are activists such as Brad Will journalists? What about bloggers? Could I, Oscar, a simple unknown webbie be considered a journalist?

Mexico’s chamber of deputies is discussing a federal law to combat murderous attacks on journalists. Part of the debate centres on the definition of a journalist. The justice ministry initially favoured a restrictive definition that would exclude people such as Lydia Cacho, who is famous for her reporting on paedophile rings, or Brad Will, a cameraman murdered in October 2006. But trying to define who is and who is not a journalist is tantamount to restricting access to news and information.
-ReportersWithoutBorders 17 Sept. 2008

On April 2, with a definition in hand, the Mexican Congress’s Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved an initiative to make crimes against journalists a federal offence, with the objective of protecting freedom of expression and the work of journalists. The initiative would add a clause to the Federal Criminal Code with respect to violations of the freedom of expression rights of journalists.

The approved text establishes that anyone who commits an illegal action under criminal law with the objective of hindering, interfering, limiting or attacking the work of journalists will be subject to anywhere from one to five years in jail, in addition to a fine. If the crime is committed by a public servant while carrying out his or her work, the penalty may be increased by up to one half. Journalistic work is considered to include investigations and the collection of information, the taking of photographs, and the synthesising, editing, publishing and dissemination of information, ideas and opinion via any media outlet. In addition, according to the text of the initiative, the journalistic work may be carried out sporadically or on a continuous basis, may be paid or unpaid and an employment relationship does not have to exist with a media outlet for it to be considered journalism.
-Ifex.org

After approval by the Chamber of Deputies, the text was sent to the Senate for revision and to be voted upon.