Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Community, Indigenous, and Afro-descendant media organizations across Mexico participated in an intensive training program to improve technical and radio production skills, as well as organizational and management practices. The program, designed to amplify these communities' voices in Mexico's public sphere, was organized by the Canto de Cenzontles collective and funded by UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC).
The in-person training took place over three days at the Center for Studies on Rural Development (CESDER) in Puebla. More than 50 communicators, mostly women, representing 14 Indigenous radio stations, three Afro-Mexican media outlets, and three community media organizations from eight Mexican states participated. They developed tools and skills to enhance media production strategies and increase their presence amid digital, economic, and social challenges.
This training is part of a broader initiative by Canto de Cenzontles, supported by organizations including REDES A.C., Boca de Polen, Ojo de Agua Comunicación, CESDER, and UNESCO. The main goals are to foster a plural and diverse media ecosystem in Mexico, promote Indigenous languages, and ensure that the knowledge and perspectives of Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities are prominent in civic spaces.
According to 2020 data from Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), more than 23.2 million people in Mexico identify as Indigenous and 2.5 million as Afro-descendant. Yet, Indigenous communities hold only 69 media licenses, and Afro-Mexican communities just nine, representing less than 1% of the 8,406 broadcasting concessions registered as active by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) at the beginning of 2026. By comparison, community media account for 4.6% of concessions, public media 11.5%, and commercial media 83%.
As part of the IPDC project, Indigenous and Afro-descendant media throughout Mexico are receiving support including microgrants, partnerships with community and mainstream media, educational and research resources, and mentoring for radio content creation. Content produced will be broadcast in the coming months through public media outlets and digital platforms.