🇲🇽 El Universal

About El Universal

El Universal is a privately owned Mexican newspaper, with the Ealy Ortiz family being the primary owners of both its print and online versions. Juan Francisco Ealy Ortiz serves as the Executive President of the General Committee, and his son, Juan Francisco Ealy Jr., is the General Director. The family has been identified as having close ties to the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).

El Universal has a history of being accused of pro-government bias, notably during Enrique Peña Nieto's presidency when it was a significant recipient of government advertising. The New York Times (2017) reported on the outlet's substantial government funding and suggested it acted as an 'attack dog' for the government, an accusation El Universal denied. Media watchdog AllSides, via Ground News, currently rates El Universal with a Left bias, citing its criticism of the US government during a Republican presidency and its perceived support for Mexico's left-leaning President Claudia Sheinbaum's policies. The outlet has faced controversies, including publishing misleading headlines during the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre and a recent incident (June 2026) where it published an unverified interview attributed to Carlos Monsiváis, leading to a public apology and retraction. Ground News also indicates an 'Unknown factuality rating' for El Universal from Ad Fontes Media and Media Bias/Fact Check.