Mexican presidential candidate paid journalists for media 'mentions'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2012/may/14/press-freedom-mexico

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A Mexican presidential candidate paid thousands of pounds to journalists for "mentions" in the media.

According to an article in the Mexican newspaper, Reforma, and another in the magazine, Proceso, a current presidential candidate, Enrique Peña Nieto, paid roughly £1.5m for journalistic "mentions" during his tenure as a state governor.

One broadcaster - Joaquín López Dóriga, news host for the main Mexican broadcaster, Televisa - is said to have received about £420,000 between January 2006 and July 2007.

Reforma obtained receipts through a freedom of information request that also revealed payments made to two radio stations by Peña Nieto for interviews and broadcasts about his administration.

In his own defence, the presidential candidate (who is standing for the Institutional Revolutionary Party, said the payments were not made to receive favourable journalistic coverage but were for sponsorships that aired before the journalists' comments.

According to opinion polls, Peña Nieto is favoured to win the Mexican presidential election on 1 July.

<em>Source:</em> Knight Centre <em>In Spanish:</em> Proceso/Reforma