🇲🇽 El Universal

About El Universal

El Universal was founded in 1916 by Félix Fulgencio Palavicini. It is privately owned by the Ealy Ortiz family, with Juan Francisco Ealy Ortiz serving as Executive President and his son, Juan Francisco Ealy Lanz Duret, as General Director. The outlet has historically received significant government advertising contracts.

El Universal has a history of being accused by the political left in Mexico of having a close relationship with past governments. Notably, in 1968, it published misleading headlines regarding the Tlatelolco massacre. In 2017, The New York Times reported that El Universal received substantial government funding, which allegedly influenced its editorial line, an accusation the newspaper denied. Columnists have also resigned due to perceived editorial interference on critical government topics. While AllSides currently rates El Universal as 'Left' with low confidence, noting its alignment with the current left-leaning government, its historical tendency to align with the government in power (including a conservative, pro-government stance during the Peña Nieto administration) suggests an adaptable editorial line influenced by political affiliations and financial incentives. Mexico's media environment is considered 'not-free' by Freedom House and Reporters Without Borders, with journalists