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Influential Mexican Journalist Julio Scherer Garcia, Dead At 88

SCHERER GARCIA
FILE - In this April 3, 2002 file photo, Mexican journalist Julio Scherer Garcia speaks after being awarded the New Journalism Award in Monterrey, Mexico. The newsmagazine Proceso is reporting the death of its founder, Julio Scherer Garcia, one of the most influential Mexican journalists of the past half century. Proceso says Scherer died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, of septic shock following a long illness. He was 88. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)GREGORY BULL / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mexico is mourning the death of one its most influential journalists and authors, Julio Scherer Garcia.

Scherer, 88, died Wednesday of septic shock following a prolonged illness, according to the Associated Press.

The news quickly spread on social media, with many expressing their condolences and wishing the crusading journalist rest in peace.

Scherer was well known for challenging Mexican officials at a time when this was not tolerated by the PRI party, which governed Mexico for decades. Scherer was editor of Mexico's Excelsior newspaper from 1968 until 1976 until he was forced out of his position. This history was reflected on Twitter Wednesday, when he was remembered as a true journalism "teacher" who "confronted the PRI at its most hegemonic and repressive state":

Scherer later founded the news magazine Proceso, known for its crusading articles.

"Scherer was - is - the most complete journalist of the 20th century, rooted in his independence from any power," wrote Alvaro Delgado in one of several articles on Scherer published Wednesday in Proceso.

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