Retired journalist Jorge Luis González, former director and editor of La Tribuna de Campeche for three decades until his retirement in 2017, has become the target of a new act of censorship by Campeche’s governor, Layda Sansores. On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, a state judge ruled that any article mentioning the governor must first be approved by the court, an alarming violation of press freedom and a blatant attempt to suppress criticism of her administration.
This is not the first time Sansores has used the legal system against González and La Tribuna. In June, the governor filed a lawsuit accusing both the journalist and the newspaper of inciting hatred and causing “moral damage” through critical coverage. As a result, a previous court decision fined González two million pesos (approximately $110,000 USD) and prohibited both him and the outlet from mentioning the governor in any report. That ruling was suspended on July 9 following an appeal, which correctly argued that prior censorship is prohibited by the Mexican Constitution.
González, who retired in January 2017 after a 30-year career in journalism, stated that it is unclear which articles triggered the lawsuit or why he was included, given that he is no longer part of La Tribuna’s editorial team. This latest action adds to a troubling history: in 2022, González was sued by the governor’s nephew, Gerardo Sánchez Sansores, and by Patrón Bacab, further reinforcing the perception of a pattern of persecution.
These attacks are not only a direct threat to González and La Tribuna de Campeche but also set a dangerous precedent for press freedom across Mexico. Prior censorship, legal harassment of journalists, and lawsuits for “moral damage” are tactics used to intimidate and neutralize the media’s critical role in a democracy.
At Free Press Alliance, we strongly condemn these actions and demand full respect for the rights of journalist Jorge Luis González and La Tribuna to carry out their work without restrictions or retaliation. The people of Campeche, and of all Mexico, deserve access to truthful, independent, and critical information. Silencing the press is sentencing society to silence.