Stolen Map, Lifted Pay Wall and Other Tales

On a sweltering morning in Mexico City yesterday, I looked with sleepy eyes at my screen to find a newsletter had taken a map of cartel turf that I published here on CrashOut with a paywall, slapped their label on it and put it out for free. They did say it was “based on analysis by Ioan Grillo” in tiny letters but unfairly claimed authorship of the new graphic. After I complained, they made a second bigger link to me but kept their name on it.

We had a bit of a ding dong on Twitter (which loves a ruckus), and I don’t want to drag it out here. The spat gets into the difficulty of keeping ownership of original work in the hyper-connected media landscape and how to make a living from actual on-the-ground reporting. But I decided that it was out the bag now so I would republish the original story here on CrashOut for free - here it is below, with the full analysis.

While we’re here, I’d like to re-share a couple more of the most popular stories I’ve had on CrashOut because the number of subscribers continues to shoot up and many will have missed earlier work.

This article below is from a remarkable interview by the gallant Luis Chaparro of a narco nicknamed El Plaga who was supposed to be in jail but claimed to be on the street still operating. It’s especially relevant now as El Plaga’s case was handled by the Baja California state prosecutors, who are also dealing with the dubious murder of the Aussie and American surfers.

I began writing CrashOut occasionally in early 2022 but I launched properly last August and this below was one of my first stories, on the paradox of violence and growth in Mexico. I was pleased as I managed to get on paper what I had been seeing and feeling for a long time.

Meanwhile, in this piece here I take it down to El Salvador and get into the thorny and uncomfortable truths of Bukele’s crackdown on gangs and how we cannot deny it is effective and popular even as it is undoubtedly brutal.

Finally, here Christian Cipollini takes us into the chilling first-hand tale of how a sicario in California can get away with murder for three decades; which is a concern if you see what is happening in SoCal now (more on that to come).

There are plenty more stories both free and pay-walled if you want to skim the archives on www.crashoutmedia.com. And now is a stellar chance to make the easy clicks to become part of the CrashOut crew as a paid subscriber for the bargain five-dollar offer (or the price of a pint of real ale). Do it before you think twice and then down a steaming mug of coffee or iced tea or whatever your poison is.

I’ll be back on Monday with a new and fresh story. And for all those in Mexico and those who celebrate it wherever you are - Feliz día de la madre!

Copyright Ioan Grillo and CrashOutMedia 2024