‘Freedom of expression is a right of all society’

The Governor led a meeting with women leaders in communication to reflect on the challenges of journalism, social media and new audiences

Leon/Gto News

At the Teatro Estudio of the Teatro del Bicentenario, the voice of women took on a unique character. In a special edition of “Connecting with the People,” Governor Libia Dennise Garcia Munoz Ledo brought together prominent women in communications from Mexico and Guanajuato to discuss freedom of expression, ethics, new audiences, and the role of women in the media.

Under the theme “Voices in Freedom: Women communicators on the World Freedom of Expression Day”, the Governor spoke with Alejandra Magana, president of the Guanajuato Delegation of the CIRT, journalist and television presenter; Pamela Cerdeira, communicator, host, writer and announcer of MVS Nacional; Sarahi Martinez, host of TV4; and Paola Galo, a Guanajuatense creator of content.

The Governor emphasized that freedom of expression is not only a right of journalists or media outlets, but of all of society, and reaffirmed the commitment of the People’s Government to transparency, accountability, and ongoing dialogue with those who report the news.

“The worst thing a government can do is deny that there is a reality. In order to resolve the issue and propose measures, the first step is to recognize that there is a risk to journalism,” said the Governor, noting that Guanajuato has a State Council for the Protection of Journalists and Human Rights Defenders.

Alejandra Magana said that one of the biggest challenges for women communicators continues to be breaking into leadership positions, balancing professional life with caregiving responsibilities, and practicing journalism in a complex national context.

“The media is not here to applaud governments, nor are governments here to applaud the media; we are both here to serve society,” said Alejandra Magana.

“When we have fewer women reporting the news, we also have fewer women as subjects of the news. We are reporting the world almost as if we didn’t exist,” said Pamela Cerdeira.

Cerdeira called on young people to read, question, and form their own opinions in the face of algorithms and misinformation.

From TV4, Sarahi Martinez noted the role of public media as a bridge between Guanajuato and the world, providing verified, useful, and human-centered content. She noted that, in the face of fake news and hate speech, the media has the challenge of guiding audiences and strengthening trust through factual information.

Paola Galo, a Guanajuatense creator of content, spoke about the responsibility that comes with communicating through social media, especially when the content can influence decisions, recommendations, and public conversations. “Just because something is trending doesn’t mean it’s true; we also have a responsibility as consumers to verify information before sharing it,” she said.

The Governor acknowledged that new platforms have transformed the way we communicate and that today’s youth have powerful tools to tell stories, but she insisted that freedom of expression must always go hand in hand with responsibility, ethics, and critical thinking.

“When girls and young women see women practicing these professions, making their voices and visions heard, a world of possibilities opens up,” said the Governor.

The guests agreed on the importance of defending freedom of expression, promoting positive content, verifying information, and opening more spaces for new generations of communicators.

“Let good things also be news,” said Paola Galo. “Let’s remember that we are human beings and that we are on the side of humanity,” shared Sarahí Martínez.

“Pursue what makes your heart beat faster, and also make sure that it lets you sleep peacefully,” concluded Pamela Cerdeira.

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