🇲🇽 El Universal

About El Universal

El Universal is primarily owned by the Ealy Ortiz family, with Juan Francisco Ealy Ortiz serving as Executive President and Juan Francisco Ealy Lanz Duret as General Director. The family has historical political ties, including alignment with the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). The outlet has received significant government advertising contracts, raising concerns about its financial independence.

Historically, El Universal has been noted for a conservative and pro-government editorial policy, particularly during Enrique Peña Nieto's presidency, and was a major recipient of government advertising. In 2017, The New York Times accused the newspaper of becoming an 'attack dog' for the government due to substantial government funding, an accusation El Universal denied, asserting its editorial independence. Six columnists resigned in 2017 over the paper's stance against the National Anticorruption System. While an April 2025 AllSides review, with low confidence, rated El Universal as 'Left' due to perceived support for President Sheinbaum, a recent article in April 2026 that was publicly rejected by President Sheinbaum suggests a potentially critical stance towards the current administration. Mexico's press freedom environment is challenging, with Reporters Without Borders ranking it 121st out of 180 countries in 2024, and Freedom House classifying it as 'Partly Free'. Journalists fa