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THE NEWSPAPER

ZETA Weekly is the most credible and solid journalism institution in the Northwestern region of Mexico. In Tijuana, Baja California, it was founded on April 11, 1980, and after 24 years of it still holds a strong influence over the social, economic and political scene in Baja California.

Made possible by a team of professionals within the field of communication, especially dedicated to in depth reporting, ZETA captures the attention of its readers every Friday throughout the five counties of Baja California as well as other Mexican cities.

Identified by groups all over the world such as the Committee to Protect Journalists or the Freedom Forum as an example of independent reporting and publishing as well as a form of freedom of expression and ideas, in ZETA we have managed to accomplish a financial structure that is far from government and political pressures. Thus, is has been possible to strengthen an objective and professional editorial policy.

ZETA has preserved Tijuana as its grounds of operation, due to the growth rate of this border town and the way it influences the rest of the country and the South of the United States, where everyday the understanding of both countries regarding political, financial and social contributions is defined.

OUR CONTENT

At the start of the 80’s Semanario ZETA managed to transform Mexican journalism by including in its pages exclusive information, a product of its in depth reporting which begins with the use of scientific methods to obtain data and detailed graphic materials regarding the context in which important issues develop in Baja California and Mexico.

The newspaper opened its doors at a moment in time when official statements and policies ruled and politicians were used to being praised by journalists. ZETA then broke through with its ideals of freedom and independence of the press. It also introduced the use of surveys as a journalism tool, and exclusive interviews with the oppressed political opposition.

ZETA is the only newspaper in Mexico that shares a considerable space –three to four pages each week- to its readers whose thoughts are this way entirely reproduced. At the same time, every week six or seven pages are destined to reproduce the Opinion of men and women from Baja California who come from every possible sector of society: Political, religious, financial, activists, non government and government agencies. Together they all form a select group of external collaborators.

The weekly newspaper offers the only signed editorial in the history of Mexican written press. The Sports, Arts & Culture and Entertainment sections offer our readers quality journalism along with in depth reporting and exclusive information.

The content is divided into two great sections. The first of them focuses on politics; analysis of government related issues, social subjects, articles, columns and the presence of our readers. The second block concentrates on cultural issues through its Opinions, Arts & Culture, Sports and Entertainment sections.

Currently, the column known as Dobleplana, written by our editor in chief, J.Jesús Blancornelas, is the spinal cord of the weekly newspaper providing information about politics, the economy, society and the drug trade. The author has gained the recognition of countless international associations. Also, his articles are being published in more than 35 newspapers throughout Mexico.

OUR READERS

70 percent of our readers remain captive, which means they buy ZETA as if it was a mandatory action or, to put it best, as a tradition. The remaining 30 percent buy the paper because of its exclusive stories and graphics that appear on the front page.

A survey conducted by ZETA revealed that each issue is read during the week by an average of four individuals in any of its two sections.

Furthermore, the study demonstrated that our readers belong to all the three social groups that coexist in this society. Most of them come from upper middle to low income families and in these groups there are many professionals, students and diverse types of employees.

Bearing this universe of readers in mind, ZETA has made a commitment to them by making different social contributions.

Our readers have also been a key part in cultural and educational programs through many artistic and recreational activities that have taken place at the Tijuana Cultural Center. We have also supported charities such as the Telethon.

Definitely our readers are the ones who define the sort of journalism we practice at this weekly newspaper committed to in depth reporting and analysis. And the public is the one that offers unconditional support by buying the newspaper and demonstrating that we are the best selling newspaper in Baja California.

DISTRIBUTION

A complete network of distributors allows us to maintain more than 3,000 points of sale. Approximately 500 of them are represented by people who sell the paper since the early morning hours of every Friday along the busiest avenues in all five counties. At the top of their lungs they are the ones who recite our front-page top headlines.

Our sales points also include the leading supermarket chains, convenience stores as well as drug stores, liquor stores, grocery stores, bookstores and other types of businesses that offer special interest merchandise. They support us by placing ZETA at the top spot of their shelves offering to their clients and showing us their preference.

We also distribute the paper in cities such as La Paz, Baja California Sur, Hermosillo, Sonora; Guadalajara, Jalisco; Mazatlan, Sinaloa and Mexico city.

Each week around 50,000 issue are printed. 70 percent of them are sold in Tijuana, Tecate and Rosarito. 18 percent is distributed in Ensenada and 12 percent at the state capital, the city of Mexicali. We also offer subscriptions both in Mexico and internationally.

As another point of distribution, the newspaper now is a part of the International Information Network, through its page www.zetatijuana.com

. According to our statistics 35,000 people visit our web page daily to read the information provided by us.

OUR PAGES

ZETA has a 10.25 x 11.25 tabloid format. It is printed in black and white using the best quality paper and printing materials. It adds color in its general pages as well as in the front page.

Under a strict financial layout, the newspaper invests 60 percent of its pages to information and 40 percent are destined for ads. Leading international, national and local companies and firms are among our clients.

The border as a point of sale grants us the possibility of offering our advertising pages to clients located along the south of the United States and Mexico. Among our clients we find the most diverse types of companies dedicated to various products and services that appear on our pages through trading agreements, exclusive and weekly contracts.

This structure has been determined through a carefully practiced equation that combines research, good writing and exclusive news stories which capture the interest of our readers, generate more sales. This explains why, then, companies and businesses choose our pages to publish their ads, simply because they know their products and services

AWARDS

The prestige ZETA has earned by its in depth reporting has stretched farther than Baja California.

In the last few years, international, local and national associations have acknowledged the work done by ZETA
granting us awards, recognition, medals and special.

The following list underlines of the most important ones:

1996 Based in the city of LosAngeles, California,
PEN Club gave ZETA Freedom To Write Award.
This organization, formed by American writers and journalists represents the United Stated Delegation of Pen Club established in London,England.

1996 Jesus Blancornelas was named
Editor of the Year by Editors World Reviews.

1996 The CPJ (Committee to ProjectJournalists), based in New Yorkand formed by the leading journalists in the UnitedStates, grantedJesus Blancornelas the International Press Freedom Award.

1997 The San Diego Press Club granted
the Media Freedom Award.

1998 The United States Society of Professional Journalists acknowledgedBlancornelas with a special plaque in
recognition for his courage topursue journalism.

1998 The American Public Relations Associationgave the Diogenes Award in the city of SanDiego, because of thedecision to continue on after an assassination attempt.

1998 The California Chicano News MediaAssociation granted the La Pluma Award in SanDiego, California.

1998 ColumbiaUniversity,in New York,granted
the Maria Moors Cabot Award.

1999 The Parisbased UNESCO along with the Guillermo Cano Icaza Foundation of Colombia,granted Jesus Blancornelas the World Journalism Award in the City of SantaFe de Bogota, Colombia.

1999 The Government of Baja Californiaacknowledged a journalism career that has risen to an international level.

1999 The XVI Constitutional Legislature of theState of BajaCalifornia consideredMr. Blancornelas a Distinguished Citizen of the State of BajaCalifornia.

2000 The International Institute Press, located in Vienna,Austria,during its 50th Anniversary, named Jesus Blancornelas one ofthe 50 heroes within the field of journalism around the world.

2001 Blancornelas received the NationalJournalism Award for “In Depth Reporting”.

2002 The Inter-American Press Society granted him the “Freedom ofExpression Grand Prize in Lima.Peru.

2003 The Grupo 21 named Blancornelas “2003 Man of the Year”. will be noticed.

OUR OFFICES

ZETA is located at Avenida de Las Americas 4633, Fraccionamiento El Paraiso in Tijuana, Baja California. The building actually is an old house inhabited by journalists since the first months of 1980. Together they made the decision to embark on an independent project that has granted presence to Tijuana.

At the editorial office of ZETA there is a huge sign that expresses our commitment: “It is better to loose a story than to loose credibility”. Our editorial staff also includes correspondents in Guadalajara, Jalisco; Mexico city; Culiacan, Sinaloa; Toluca, State of Mexico, and other important cities in this country.

As a consequence of our style of news reporting we have gone through difficult moments resulting in damage to our offices, two assassinations and one assassination attempt. In spite of this and with the support of our readers and clients, ZETA continues to be in Baja California Free as the Wind.