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Julio Scherer Garcia, journalist and irritant of politicians, dies at 88 Julio Scherer García, journalist and irritant to politicians, dies at 88
(about 2 hours later)
Julio Scherer Garcia, a Mexican journalist who founded the newsmagazine Proceso, one of his country’s most crusading publications, died Jan. 7, it was reported from Mexico City. He was 88. Julio Scherer García, a Mexican journalist who founded the newsmagazine Proceso, one of his country’s most crusading publications, died Jan. 7, it was reported from Mexico City. He was 88.
Proceso announced the death and said the cause was septic shock.Proceso announced the death and said the cause was septic shock.
Mr. Scherer helped expose many of Mexico’s greatest scandals for decades, probing a secret army unit to combat guerrillas, a multimillion-dollar Swiss bank account of a president’s brother, and official involvement in the assassination of a journalist. Mr. Scherer helped expose many of Mexico’s greatest scandals for decades, probing a secret army unit set up to combat guerrillas, a multimillion-dollar Swiss bank account of a president’s brother, and official involvement in the assassination of a journalist.
His tough independence stood out at a time when independent reporting critical of the government was rare in Mexico and he inspired and trained a new generation of the country’s journalists. His tough independence stood out at a time when independent reporting critical of the government was rare in Mexico, and he inspired and trained a new generation of the country’s journalists.
As editor of Excelsior, then Mexico’s leading newspaper, from 1968 to 1976, Mr. Scherer took on the omnipotent ruling party over corruption and human rights abuses, and questioned the government’s version of an army massacre of students. He so irked President Luis Echeverria that the government maneuvered to push him out of the newspaper in 1976. As editor of Excelsior, then Mexico’s leading newspaper, from 1968 to 1976, Mr. Scherer took on the omnipotent ruling party over corruption and human rights abuses, and he questioned the government’s version of an army massacre of students. He so irked President Luis Echeverría that the government maneuvered to push him out of the newspaper in 1976.
Just months later, Proceso published its first issue with the help of journalists who left Excelsior with Mr. Scherer. In the decades since, the weekly newsmagazine has become the country’s most consistent source of investigative journalism.Just months later, Proceso published its first issue with the help of journalists who left Excelsior with Mr. Scherer. In the decades since, the weekly newsmagazine has become the country’s most consistent source of investigative journalism.
Mr. Scherer wrote nearly two-dozen books, often analyzing the terms of Mexico’s presidents. In 1971, he won the prestigious Maria Moors Cabot award from Columbia University.Mr. Scherer wrote nearly two-dozen books, often analyzing the terms of Mexico’s presidents. In 1971, he won the prestigious Maria Moors Cabot award from Columbia University.
In 1994, the Zapatista rebels invited Mr. Scherer to participate with a Catholic bishop and the Nobel laureate Rigoberto Menchu as intermediaries in a dialogue with the Mexican government.In 1994, the Zapatista rebels invited Mr. Scherer to participate with a Catholic bishop and the Nobel laureate Rigoberto Menchu as intermediaries in a dialogue with the Mexican government.
Mr. Scherer demurred. “My condition as a journalist obligates me to impartiality, difficult to sustain as both mediator and chronicler of the events we experience. I must then comply exclusively with the rules of my profession.”Mr. Scherer demurred. “My condition as a journalist obligates me to impartiality, difficult to sustain as both mediator and chronicler of the events we experience. I must then comply exclusively with the rules of my profession.”
Seven years later, when the Zapatistas’ charismatic leader was on verge of talks with then-President Vicente Fox, the masked rebel commander sat down for an interview with Mr. Scherer.Seven years later, when the Zapatistas’ charismatic leader was on verge of talks with then-President Vicente Fox, the masked rebel commander sat down for an interview with Mr. Scherer.
Mr. Scherer scored another coup in 2010, when he interviewed Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a leader of the Sinaloa cartel and one of Mexico’s most-wanted drug lords.Mr. Scherer scored another coup in 2010, when he interviewed Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a leader of the Sinaloa cartel and one of Mexico’s most-wanted drug lords.
Just reaching the interview site, a rustic two-room house in the mountains, was a multi-day affair. Proceso reported that Zambada said he had always wanted to meet Mr. Scherer and opened up about his life as a fugitive, admitting, “I’m terrified of being incarcerated.”Just reaching the interview site, a rustic two-room house in the mountains, was a multi-day affair. Proceso reported that Zambada said he had always wanted to meet Mr. Scherer and opened up about his life as a fugitive, admitting, “I’m terrified of being incarcerated.”
Last year, Mr. Scherer’s daughter Maria Scherer Ibarra wrote in the magazine Letras Libres that her father had repeatedly refused colleagues’ requests to let them write his biography. Last year, Mr. Scherer’s daughter María Scherer Ibarra wrote in the magazine Letras Libres that her father had repeatedly refused colleagues’ requests to let them write his biography.
“My father has insisted, and with reason, that his work speak for him: his interviews, his reporting.”“My father has insisted, and with reason, that his work speak for him: his interviews, his reporting.”
— Associated Press— Associated Press