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In Mexico, more than 40 journalists have been killed or have vanished since December 2006, when President Felipe Calderón came to power and launched a government offensive against the country’s powerful drug cartels and organised crime groups.

Director Bernardo Ruiz follows journalist Sergio Haro from the Mexican magazine Zeta, a Tijuana-based independent newsweekly. Through interviews, reports, archive footage and news items, Ruiz illustrates the ruthless practices of the drug cartels, and the corruption that makes it so dangerous for journalists to do their jobs.

With a print circulation of about 30,000, Zeta is an anomaly in the Mexican media landscape. For three decades the paper has chronicled the activities of organised crime and corrupt politicians. Since the paper was founded in 1980, two editors have been murdered and founder Jesus Blancornelas miraculously survived a vicious attack. Despite the dangers, Zeta journalists are committed to investigative journalism and determined to uncover the truth.

Directed by Bernardo Ruiz
Duration: 71′
Year: 2012

From America they write that the population of the United States is 40 million and they publish 7,643 newspapers. However, in all Europe, Asia and Africa with several hundred million inhabitants, there aren’t so many newspapers. The reason is that the population of the country mentioned above is completely literate and they read newspapers every day. (The Cultivator, January 1, 1876)

America was a land of inventions then as well:

A writing machine is invented in America which looks like a piano. When you push its keys, each writes a separate letter. Reportedly, this machine writes much faster and better than handwriting. (The Cultivator, October 8, 1876)

America was also our fierce rival back then:

As no kerosene was imported from America this year, price of a pood of Baku kerosene has risen to six rubles and half. (The Cultivator, February, 1877)

What French newspapers wrote about America:

French newspapers report that something like a telegraph is invented in America which allows speaking [through it]. They have tested this telegraph as such: when one preacher in Boston started to talk, people of Salem, a city in a distance of 250 versts, could listen to him. Then the preacher heard back the cheers and applauds of the crowd. And now, music will be played in New York and people of Philadelphia, a city in a distance of 500 versts will listen and applaud. This equipment is called a telephone. (The Cultivator, April 28, 1877)

Perhaps this was the first time when broad Azeri public heard about telephone.

And most hilarious piece ever:

New York, America, 26 October – In American Republic, a person named Gilding[?] was elected the President (that is a ruler) for 4 years. They say the aforementioned person was a tailor. (The Cultivator, November 6, 1876)

Subsequent research has proved that this news was at least mock

As you might know, private television channels are forbidden by the law in Iran. In general, power-holders are really touchy about any media that could challenge their authority. […]

However, presidential elections in Iran are a chance for people to find out about diverse, mostly dissident political views in the state-run TV and get relieved from the official political propaganda that could not be cornier. Candidates are allotted equal time to talk about their plans with the citizens in television. […]

I wish [we] had a presidential election everyday in Iran! The sense of freedom is really great!

Well, the same thing we witness here, in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The only difference is that at least in theory we have some private-owned channels – though they broadcast either more pro-government propaganda, or complete trash as very low-budget entertainment shows. Even on 30th April, when a gunmen entered State Oil Academy and gunned down 12 people before killing himself, Azeri TV channels were covering President’s official visit to Belgium or live translation of two pop stars singing some joyful songs. Such a tragedy and the first Azeri TV channel gives the news only after the last Azeri picks it from text messages.

And neither diverse, nor dissident views on TV – neither state-run, nor private. Only during election time, the grip on media loosens and some “extravagant” faces appear on screens. We recall that we have an opposition; they can criticize the government and can have some real programs. However, all of these pecularities must be fit into few minutes strictly regulated by legislation.

Thus, such a strange society we are – waiting five years to see a dissent face on TV for five minutes.

However, those dissent faces are to be blamed most. To be blamed for waiting whole five years to have a chance to speak for five minutes. I even wonder if they shave and have haircut during all these years or do them just before appearing on TV.

I agree that it is almost impossible for an oppositional activist to approach 100 meters to a TV studio, but is the situation so helpless, ladies and gentlemen? Moreover, are TV channels only instruments available to communicate with people of this country? But it is an Internet age – when newspapers are bleeding under the triumphant march of online news resources, and TV channels losing ground to online broadcasting and Youtube. How can you wait for five whole years amongst such diversity of media tools? Why I don’t see Isa Gambar’s blog, Ali Karimli’s Youtube channel or Lala Shovkat’s twitter? Why I can’t find any oppositional leader on Facebook? Don’t they complain that they have no tools to contact with ordinary people? Who hinders them to join Facebook or Odnoklassniki and start to add thousands of Azeri users as friends?

I am a pauvre citizen from a Bakuvian suburb and even I have five blogs, Facebook profile, Youtube channel and a twitter!

In every corner of the globe, there are journalists in jail or being actively harassed: from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, Burma to Uzbekistan, Cuba to Eritrea.

The statement went mostly unnoticed in Azerbaijani media and public more preoccupied with deadly rampage at State Oil Academy which left 13 people dead. However, local oppositional newspaper Yeni Musavat in an article about this statement describes an infamous image of Zimbabwe that persists in Azerbaijan and asks:

…Zimbabwe is infamous here, as it is infamous in the world. This country is infamous for its hyperinflation, massive unemployement, massive famine and widespred illnesses. Now, it seems Zimbabwe has problems with media also.

However, let’s see what is more fair: a comparison of our country to Zimbabwe, or mentioning of Zimbabwe together with Azerbaijan. That is, who should be offended when compared to other.