Mexico paper asks drug cartels what they can print without risk of murder

You know things are really getting out of hand, when the press asks this.

Explain what you want from us,' reads front-page editorial

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — The biggest newspaper in Mexico's most violent city is to restrict drug war coverage after the killing of its second journalist in less than two years, just as international press representatives will urge the government to make security for journalists a national priority.

In a front-page editorial Sunday, El Diario de Juarez asked drug cartels warring in this city across from El Paso, Texas, to say what they want from the newspaper, so it can continue its work without further death, injury or intimidation of its staff.

"Leaders of the different organizations that are fighting for control of Ciudad Juarez: The loss of two reporters from this publishing house in less than two years represents an irreparable sorrow for all of us who work here, and, in particular, for their families," the editorial said.

"We ask you to explain what you want from us, what we should try to publish or not publish, so we know what to expect," it added.

It was the newspaper's second front-page editorial since gunmen attacked two El Diario photographers Thursday — one a new employee and the other an intern.

The new employee, Luis Carlos Santiago, 21, died and the intern was seriously wounded as they left their office to have lunch.

In 2008, a crime reporter for El Diario was slain outside his home as he was taking his daughters to school.

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