And now, from the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and CNN, the Axviles with your

host, David Axelrod.

We take for granted in America that reporters can do their jobs unmolested, sometimes frustrated

by official stonewalling, but never in fear of their lives.

That's not true of people who cover the drug wars in Mexico where week after week, we have

cases of journalists who disappear, journalists who are killed for exposing corruption, for

exposing the nefarious schemes of these drug cartels.

Alfredo Carchado has been a long time correspondent for the Dallas Morning News in Mexico writing

about this.

He's the author of a searing book called Midnight in Mexico, a reporter's journey through

a country's descent into darkness, a book that charts his extraordinary story.

Alfredo Carchado was a fellow this spring at the Institute of Politics, and I sat down

to talk about his life where Mexico is today and the perils of covering one of the most

dangerous stories on the planet.

Alfredo Carchado, first of all, let me say thank you for being here and for being at the

Institute of Politics.

We've really enriched the experience of students here by sharing your own and we're grateful

for that.

That was a two way street, thank you for the opportunity.

Talk to me about your life in two worlds in Mexico and in the United States and how you've

navigated those worlds.

I left Mexico at the age of six, kicking and screaming.

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