Mexican journalists honor slain colleagues on Day of the Dead in Tijuana

John Yang:

This weekend is El Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a holiday celebrated in Mexico and other parts of Latin America. It's a mix of grief and joy honoring the dead.

In Tijuana, Mexico, this year, they took the opportunity to remember journalists who've been killed while reporting from member station KPBS in San Diego. Matthew Bowler has the story.

Matthew Bowler (voice-over):

The ofrenda, or altar, holds special spiritual significance for Mexicans. And this one is significant for the group of people. It's remembering built by journalists for journalists. It's been a difficult year in Mexico to be in the business reporting.

Vicente Calderon, Editor in Chief, Tijuanapress.com: We are bringing back the reporters killed for this occasion to tell them that we respected their efforts and we believe that journalism is alive.

Matthew Bowler (voice-over):

Vicente Calderon has been a journalist in Tijuana since 1985. He's seen dozens of Mexican reporters killed during his career. For many, it's a dangerous job.

In 2016, a U.N. campaign to end impunity for crimes against journalists inspired him to build an altar to honor his fallen colleagues. It is decorated with traditional objects of devotion, like sugar skulls and brightly colored simpasuchil or marigold flowers.

But look closer. You also see broken cell phones, old cameras, press passes, yellowed newspapers and used notebooks.

Vicente Calderon:

Margarita was gunned down coming out of his home, and less than a week later, Lourdes Maldonado was killed when she was arriving to her house.

Matthew Bowler (voice-over):

Simpasucho pedals spell out the words no impunidad or no impunity.

Vicente Calderon:

Impunity is not compliance with the rule of law and the lack of punishment to whoever who committed crime.

Matthew Bowler (voice-over):

And last weekend, another Mexican journalist was found dead on the side of the highway. Miguel Angel Bertrand covered drug cartels and crime in Durango State. His body was wrapped in a blanket with a note beside his body that reportedly read, for spreading lies about the people of Durango.

Vicente Calderon:

We are averaging one reporter killed a month. Let's knock on wood and hope that there's no more killings this year.

Matthew Bowler (voice-over):

The ofrenda also included a special section to honor journalists killed while reporting on the war in Gaza. Both Palestinian and Israeli journalists are celebrated. The altar will remain in place for a few more days, but for Calderon, its meaning is lasting.

Vicente Calderon:

I try to look at the bright side of things, even when they are this dark. It's very easy to forget about all these cases of journalists being healed. They need to be protected, and we need to talk about their safety of journalists doing their work.

Matthew Bowler (voice-over):

For PBS News Weekend, I'm Matthew Bowler in Tijuana, Mexico.