It's possible, and I wouldn't blame them if that's their reason. My issue with that is that they then didn't take the death threats seriously, and still put some tacit blame on the local administration.

So they willingly risked their employees lives, and after someone got killed they protect their own neck but still sort of hint their employees will continue the actions.

U.S. journalists don’t have the courage to do journalism anymore. They wouldn’t dare go against the grain, let alone be specific on corruption.

Mexican journalists should migrate, and report on both U.S. and Mexican government corruption without the threat of overt assassination.