Our coverage of Mexico's election was not biased

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/05/televisa-coverage-mexico-election-not-biased

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A few weeks before Mexico's presidential election last July, the Guardian published a series of articles about Grupo Televisa and its electoral coverage (Computer files link TV dirty tricks to favourite for Mexico presidency, 7 June, and others). These articles gave rise to considerable journalistic controversy in Mexico and led to Televisa making a formal complaint to the Guardian.

After several months of correspondence, each side has come to better understand the other's position. Following a candid exchange of information and points of view, Televisa and the Guardian have resolved their differences and publicly issued an agreed joint statement.

Televisa is pleased by the Guardian's acknowledgment that allegations of political bias in Televisa's broadcast coverage between 2005 and 2012 were recently found to be unsubstantiated by Mexico's Federal Election Institute and also by Mexico's Federal Electoral Court. Throughout the electoral process, Televisa met its legal commitment to air more than 4.2 million campaign spots. Moreover, Televisa was found to have provided equal and impartial coverage of each of the three main presidential candidates, thereby complying with Mexican electoral regulations in relation to media news coverage, which are among the strictest in the world.

Televisa is committed to ensuring that its programming and news coverage continually evolves to meet audience expectations. Last summer young people from Mexico, as in many other countries around the world, expressed their strong desire for more political openness and impartiality. To give them a voice, Televisa chose to become the first broadcaster in Mexico to launch a TV programme presented by some of those same young protesters. Not only is the programme <em>Sin filtro </em>(Unfiltered) hosted by students, it is also directed by them. The show runs every Sunday, and is broadcast nationally both on free-to-air and pay TV.

We have gone even further in working with students and universities. Last month Televisa launched another programme called <em>Creadores Universitarios</em> (University Creators), in collaboration with the National Autonomous University of Mexico. In this programme, students present information about issues in science, technology and culture that may have an impact on Mexico's future. These examples illustrate Televisa's commitment to serving all sectors of its audience. Its programmes are broadcast in more than 80 countries across four continents and its journalists are respected for maintaining the highest editorial standards.

In fact, Televisa's most prominent news and debate programmes on TV and radio are presented by some of Mexico's most distinguished and independent journalists, many of whom write columns in a number of prominent national newspapers, and who have won 11 national journalism prizes since 2001 for their work at Televisa.

Televisa also produces historical documentaries that have received the most prestigious awards in the Spanish-speaking world. Last December it received the Ibero-American Ondas award, and was last week honoured with the King of Spain international journalism prize.

In taking issue with the Guardian's coverage, Televisa's paramount concern – not least given its status as the leading broadcaster in the Spanish-speaking world – has always been to defend the reputation of its journalists and the editorial integrity of its programming.

Televisa has a long-standing tradition of cooperation with leading English-language media organizations around the world and we therefore welcome this opportunity to provide the Guardian's readers with an overview of our work and values.