The realities of journalism vary across the world. It’s not about boldly sharing the truth and stating facts everywhere, especially in Mexico.
Known for being one of the most unsafe countries for journalism, Mexico is now at the center of a new incident taking over the internet. According to the LatAm Journalism Review, a Mexican journalist captured her own kidnapping on camera before being abruptly cut off.
Roxana Ramírez, a journalist and founder of the digital news outlet Impulso, was abducted by two armed masked men. The kidnapping took place around 5 a.m. on June 2 in Nanchital, Veracruz.
In the video going viral on the internet, the two men are seen breaking a metal door with a hammer. After entering the home, they try to calm the occupants while still keeping the guns pointed at them. They eventually cut off the recording before anything else is revealed.
🚨Hombres armados ingresaron por la fuerza al domicilio de la periodista Roxana Berenice Guzmán Ramírez, directora del portal Pulso Informativo del Sureste, en Veracruz.
Hasta el momento, se desconoce su paradero.
La Fiscalía General del Estado informó que ya abrió una carpeta… pic.twitter.com/A1IyaKMjni
— Azucena Uresti (@azucenau) June 2, 2026
Ramírez is still missing, and it’s not known if any ransom has been demanded.
Reportedly, she had been working in the southern part of the state of Veracruz for about six months. During this time, she also launched her own platform, Impulso.
The kidnapping video sparked outrage online. Many social media users were furious, and many were worried about the state of journalism in Mexico. One user wrote on Reddit:
“What a horrible situation. I feel so sorry for them. Here’s hoping she’s let go quickly and safely.”
Another wrote:
“Cartel run some towns. This is what happens when they aren’t cleaned up properly by the Mexican government. Hope she gets found safely.”
🔴 #México | Este es uno de los sujetos que aparece en el video del secuestro de la periodista de #Veracruz Roxana Berenice Guzmán Ramírez.
Cometió errores, se puso nervioso, no se cubrió bien nariz ni cejas y, además, portaba una chamarra con características de una corporación… pic.twitter.com/2c8OJIMxnX— Gildo Garza (@GildoGarzaMx) June 2, 2026
A third said:
“Holy shit, this is terrifying, Can anyone help them return to safety?”
Mexico has always been a point of concern when it comes to journalism. While tragic, this isn’t the first time a journalist has been abducted or even killed in Mexico.
In March 2024, veteran broadcaster Jaime Barrera was also abducted in broad daylight in Guadalajara. Reportedly, he was seized shortly after leaving his radio station. He was on his way to a TV studio to host his evening show.
At that time, Jalisco State Prosecutor Luis Joaquín Méndez confirmed that Barrera was kidnapped in a “violent manner” by multiple attackers who even had guns.
In another instance, the remains of television station director Salvador Adame were found weeks after he was abducted by gunmen in Michoacán in May 2017. He became one of the several reporters who died that year.
One might think federal protection would help. However, that also means nothing in Mexico. In January 2025, journalist Calletano de Jesús Guerrero was shot and killed despite being under federal protection since 2014.
A report cited by KJZZ in May 2026 states that seven journalists were murdered and one disappeared in 2025. Meanwhile, there were 50 physical attacks against the members of the press in 2025 alone. These are recorded numbers that have been analyzed by an advocacy group that tracks global press freedom. The report also stated that Mexico has become the deadliest country in Latin America for journalists.
