Norma Alicia Moreno Figueroa
Encyclopedia
Norma Alicia Moreno Figueroa (June 24, 1962-July 17, 1986) was a Mexican
journalist. She is notable for being the first Mexican woman journalist to die violently because of her work as a journalist covering the Mexican Drug War
.
in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas
, the daughter of Mr. Laurentino Moreno and Margarita Figueroa. She studied in her hometown. She was noted as an excellent speaker and participated in local and state contests. In 1974 she won the 1st and 2nd place in contests open to primary school students and in 1978 won the speech contest open to students at her level. She belonged to the "Rodriguez Brayra" literary circle, where she presented multiple works of her poetry. She was permanent member of the House of Fine Arts in Matamoros. She was one of the first students in the Faculty of Communication Sciences at the University of Matamoros and was President of the Society of Students from the 1983-84 graduating class.
, PAN, and actively participating in conferences local, state and national. At the age of sixteen she joined the newspaper El Bravo de Matamoros, in the section covering social events, from which she gradually was promoted into a position as a reporter and columnist. In what was to be her final position, with the Matamoros newspaper El Popular, she wrote the column "Finding Paths" and also served as managing editor. In addition, she was notorious for her role as a reporter for XEEW
, a radio station of Mr. Jorge Cardenas Gonzalez that serves the Matamoros and Brownsville, Texas
areas.
In 1986 her journalistic work received a recognition from UNESCO
, heading to the City of Quito in Ecuador.
Her style courageously exposed corruption of political officials, drug trafficking and she fiercely defended of freedom of expression, public problems entailed her with politicians and especially the continuing threat of organized crime.
founder Juan Nepomuceno Guerra
. With her death she became the first woman to losing her life in Mexico in response to a journalist.
After her death she was recognized by newspapers and international agencies as well as the United States Drug Enforcement Administration
.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
journalist. She is notable for being the first Mexican woman journalist to die violently because of her work as a journalist covering the Mexican Drug War
Mexican Drug War
The Mexican Drug War is an ongoing armed conflict taking place among rival drug cartels who fight each other for regional control, and Mexican government forces who seek to combat drug trafficking. However, the government's principal goal has been to put down the drug-related violence that was...
.
Birth and Early Life
She was born in MatamorosMatamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
, the daughter of Mr. Laurentino Moreno and Margarita Figueroa. She studied in her hometown. She was noted as an excellent speaker and participated in local and state contests. In 1974 she won the 1st and 2nd place in contests open to primary school students and in 1978 won the speech contest open to students at her level. She belonged to the "Rodriguez Brayra" literary circle, where she presented multiple works of her poetry. She was permanent member of the House of Fine Arts in Matamoros. She was one of the first students in the Faculty of Communication Sciences at the University of Matamoros and was President of the Society of Students from the 1983-84 graduating class.
Professional Life and Work
She was a member of the National Action PartyNational Action Party (Mexico)
The National Action Party , is one of the three main political parties in Mexico. The party's political platform is generally considered Centre-Right in the Mexican political spectrum. Since 2000, the President of Mexico has been a member of this party; both houses have PAN pluralities, but the...
, PAN, and actively participating in conferences local, state and national. At the age of sixteen she joined the newspaper El Bravo de Matamoros, in the section covering social events, from which she gradually was promoted into a position as a reporter and columnist. In what was to be her final position, with the Matamoros newspaper El Popular, she wrote the column "Finding Paths" and also served as managing editor. In addition, she was notorious for her role as a reporter for XEEW
XEEW
XEEW-FM is a Spanish-language FM radio station that serves the Brownsville, Texas / Matamoros, Tamaulipas border area. The station was founded in 1978 by RadioDifusoras del Bajo Bravo and is operated today by RadioDual SA deCV...
, a radio station of Mr. Jorge Cardenas Gonzalez that serves the Matamoros and Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...
areas.
In 1986 her journalistic work received a recognition from UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, heading to the City of Quito in Ecuador.
Her style courageously exposed corruption of political officials, drug trafficking and she fiercely defended of freedom of expression, public problems entailed her with politicians and especially the continuing threat of organized crime.
Death and Aftermath
She died on July 17, 1986 at the age of 24, the victim of an attack by unknown gunmen with automatic weapons at the entrance of the publishing house where she used to work. The day prior to her death, she had written a column in El Popular that attacked Matamoros Mayor Jesús Roberto Guerra Velasco, a relative of Gulf CartelGulf Cartel
The Gulf Cartel is one of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico, and perhaps the oldest organized crime group in the country...
founder Juan Nepomuceno Guerra
Juan Nepomuceno Guerra
Juan Nepomuceno Guerra was a Mexican drug lord and smuggler who co-founded the Gulf Cartel with his nephew Juan García Ábrego. He is often considered the "godfather" of U.S-Mexico border mafias.-Biography:...
. With her death she became the first woman to losing her life in Mexico in response to a journalist.
After her death she was recognized by newspapers and international agencies as well as the United States Drug Enforcement Administration
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
.
External Links
- http://www.upec.cu/columnistas/teodoro_renteria/01.html
- http://www.cndh.org.mx/recomen/1991/053.htm
- http://www.impunidad.com/index.p
- http://www.newseum.org/scripts/Journalist/Detail.asp?PhotoID
- http://www.ultimahora.com.mx/index.php?c=5683
- http://www.pnp.org.mx/Triquis/marzo/31-1.html
- http://www.accessmylibrary.com/.../summary_0286-171366_ITM
- http://www.correo-gto.com.mx/notas.asp?id=89498
- http://www.oem.com.mx/esto/notas/n1118584.htm
- http://www.thejournalistsmemorial.org
- http://MEPI%20(Mexican%20Investigative%20Journalism%20Foundation)%20article%20on%20Norma%20Figueroa
- http://fundacionmepi.org/media/English%20version%20of%20story%20magazine%20style.pdf]