Strategic allies and the limits of censorship: The power of laws to silence the press

Abstract

What effects do libel laws have over the press? Why do some media remain critical while others do not when facing repressive defamation legislation? This article aims to explain how the local press reacts to legal restrictions. The results show that the chilling effect caused by libel laws is conditioned by the context's particularities: the critical function of the press may persist if strategic allies are present. Leaning on an original dataset on the content of the main Mexican newspapers of each state, it is argued that an independent judiciary and vigorous parliamentary opposition are key factors for the survival of a critical press.