Findings / Hallazgos
![many people sitting in chairs listening to someone off camera speaking](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/feature_image/public/unsorted/images/listening.jpg?h=a1e1a043&itok=GGo-wwHB)
The Observatory’s Press Database is an organized collection of articles published by Mexican press outlets regarding disappearance cases in the states of Coahuila, Guerrero, Jalisco, and Nuevo León, from 2009 to mid-2018. Our research objectives in this study are threefold. Using these articles as well as interviews with journalists in Mexico, this study seeks to complement the Observatory’s previous analyses about disappearances in these four states, learning what we can from press reports about “who was doing what to whom.” We also want to explain the social and political impacts of spot news reporting techniques for disappearance cases. Finally, we used the press database to engage with academic literature to understand which disappearance cases are considered newsworthy and why.
![woman in white shirt and large brimmed hat holding photo](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/unsorted/images/protest_ayudanos.jpg?h=a1e1a043&itok=hR7rW1KD)
In addition to the statistical analysis of the data (concerning the victims, perpetrators, and the state’s response), two conceptual key findings emerged regarding the nature of the press reports on disappearances. Read the key findings from press reports of disappearance cases
![mothers holding a white banner](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/unsorted/images/jalisco.jpg?h=2992ba0a&itok=BsHXtooL)
To better understand why the media reported on certain cases and not others, we examined the most highly reported disappearances from each state. Read more about the top five reported events.
![Coahuiia has 196 cases, Jalisco has 176 cases, Neuvo Leon has 162 cases, and Guerrero has 120 cases.](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/unsorted/images/figure1_0.jpg?h=3c20e917&itok=V16dL9VY)
Information on our data and an overview of what the data show.
![frequency of press articles individual versus group disapperances](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/unsorted/images/figure3.jpg?h=f7f01380&itok=Rmy_aj1q)
What we observed about the information that was reported on the victims. Read more about what was reported about the victim
![banner with three faces](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/unsorted/images/jalisco_tres.jpg?h=a1e1a043&itok=UZOrOr01)
While it is known that vulnerable migrant populations are at a high risk of suffering human rights violations, the crimes suffered by individuals pertaining to this group often go unreported. Read more about the disappearances of migrants.
![Reported perpetrator type by state](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/unsorted/images/figure7.jpg?h=5c94ac69&itok=wXjZtbhH)
In about 40% of disappearance cases, journalist reported on who was suspected of causing it. Read more about the press's reporting about suspected perpetrators.
![disappearance outcomes in Mexico by state](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/unsorted/images/figure9.jpg?h=0d38c439&itok=SNO4z5CN)
We reviewed press reports on the outcomes of these case, where victims were found alive, deceased, or whether the case is still unresolved. Read more about our observations of reporting on the outcomes.