Cross-format bravery and rare access expose the invisible displacement crisis of Indigenous communities in Mexico

Operating under highly volatile and rapidly shifting security conditions, video journalist Fernanda Pesce, reporter Megan Janetsky and photojournalist Marco Ugarte delivered an intimate, exclusive look at the profound human toll of cartel warfare in the mountains of Guerrero. The team achieved rare proximity to Indigenous Náhuatl families returning to their homes in the village of Tula just days after fleeing devastating attacks by local criminal groups using drone-fired explosives.

Through seamless coordination across formats, the team documented villagers sorting through ruins and charred possessions, capturing a critical humanitarian story in an area where international media has virtually no presence. The visual power of the report drove massive audience engagement. By magnifying the voices of those forced to flee, the comprehensive package forced global attention onto a largely invisible crisis and was widely cited by major international outlets.