Border Studies

Oral histories with journalists

BORDER VOICES: Journalists

Bowden, Charles (1945-2014)
Interviewer: Benavides, José Luis
Date: 2013
Status: Transcribed, eng.
Bowden has authored several books on the violence occurring on the border between the United States and Mexico, focusing on Ciudad Juárez. In an additional interview on campus, Benavides and Bowden discuss the factors that led to his decision to start writing about the atrocities that Mexico’s powerful and, well-connected, elite carry out against the poor citizens of the country. At the forefront of his decision were the local street photographers that he encountered during a murder story he was investigating in Juárez in 1995.  Bowden continues to tell the true story of why such an overwhelming amount of violence exists in Juárez. 


Cardona, Julián (1960- ) 

Interviewer: K. Kirkton & Molly Molloy 
Date: 2012 
Status: Transcribed, eng 
Julián Cardona lives and works in Ciudad Juárez. He started his photojournalism career at El Fronterizo and El Diario de Juárez.

audio  Clip 1: Julián Cardona discusses the existence of a growing underworld parallel State in Mexico, formed and operated by government officials in the formal Mexican State.

audio  Clip 2: Cardona discusses the shanty towns (Colonias) along the border and the poor conditions of the people in the maquiladoras. Fires are a common problem in the Colonias leading to the destruction of many homes.

audio  Clip 3: Cardona illuminates his investigation into the fee smugglers are paid to take people across the border into the US. Local officers in Mexico collect “bites” off the payment the smugglers are paid.

audio  Clip 4: Cardona explains the relationship between reporters and police sources during the shifts of power. 


 Martínez, Óscar (1983–)

Interviewer: José Luis Benavides & Freya Rojo
Date: 2014
Status: Transcribed, span.

Óscar Martínez explica cómo operan Los Zetas

 


Del Bosque, Melissa (1969–)

Interviewer: José Luis Benavides
Date: 2014
Status: Transcribed, eng.

  Clip 1: Story about corruption and mismanagement in the building of the border fence in 2008.

 Clip 2: How a story about immigration in Reynosa turned into a story about the crime economy.

Clip 3: Maquiladora worker story as an example of socio-economic, political violence against the poor.

 Clip 4: Effects of outsourcing on workers’ rights and wages.

 Clip 5: Low wages and expensive living on poor workers creates stress and rage among people.

 Clip 6: Black-market maquiladoras run by organized crime and local government.

Clip 7: Reporting the story on the deadliest place in Mexico: Juárez Valley. 

Clip 8: Importance of documenting this moment, collective trauma. 

Clip 9: Lack of accountability and justice and lack of understating in the United States.

Clip 10: Causes of violence in the Juárez Valley. 

 


 

Chávez Aldana, Ricardo (1974–)

Interviewer: José Luis Benavides
Date: 2014
Status: Transcribed, span.

Clip 1: Narcocorridos en la frecuencia de la policía precedía el crimen.

 Clip 2: Reportero corrupto asociado con la policía. 

 Clip 3: Riesgo a reporteros en el campo, efecto de muerte del Choco.

Clip 4: Imposible creer la versión del gobierno de la violencia.

Clip 5: Los sicarios tienen horario para matar. 

Clip 6: Reporteros tenían que cubrir el morbo del muerto.

Clip 7: Asesinato de sus dos sobrinos.

Clip 8: Amenazas en contra de toda la familia. 

Clip 9: Efectos inmediatos después del asilo.

Clip 10: Supervivencia en El Paso, daño psicológico.

 


Hernández Pacheco, Alejandro (1969–)

Interviewer: José Luis Benavides
Date: 2013
Status: Transcribed, span.

Clip 1: De la cobertura de un motín en la prisión a un levantón de periodistas. 

Clip 2: Secuestro para forzar a televisoras a censurar contenido y transmitir propaganda.

Clip 3: La policía los secuestra para presentar noticia falsa del “rescate”.

Clip 4: Detención en la ciudad de México por averiguaciones, falta de apoyo de Televisa y decisión de huír de México.

Clip 5: Cómo salieron de la Ciudad de México a pedir asilo en El Paso, Texas.

 Clip 6: Solidaridad de familia y gente de Torreón en El Paso ante dura transición.