Main content

Is this the Most Dangerous Time to be a Journalist?

Journalists have been subject to more killings, violence and intimidation in 2018. What鈥檚 behind it? We talk to those involved, from Cambodia to Somalia to Slovakia, to find out.

Journalists have been subject to more killings, and increasing levels of violence and intimidation in 2018, according to monitoring groups.

This year alone more than 30 have been murdered, including Mexican veteran journalist Carlos Dom铆nguez Rodr铆guez who was stabbed to death in January, 5 journalists shot dead at their office in Annapolis in the US in June, and the story that has dominated the news, the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at his consulate in Istanbul in October. The suspects range from organised criminals to state-sponsored assassins.

And it鈥檚 not just about murder 鈥 imprisonments and intimidation are also on the rise.

Why should the public care? What鈥檚 behind the surge? And how can the press and the public fight back? We talk to those journalists and activists from across the world to find out: is this the most dangerous time to be a journalist?

Contributors include:

Pavla Holcova - Czech Centre for Investigative Journalism
Sothearin Yeang 鈥 former journalist, Radio Free Asia
Omar Faruk Osman - Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists
Jan-Albert Hootsen 鈥 Mexico representative, Committee to Protect Journalists

Presenter: Victoria Uwonkunda
Producer: Beth Sagar-Fenton

UPDATE: Since we recorded this programme in November three more journalists have been murdered, including a radio presenter and reporter shot dead in Syria.

(Image: Protesters hold placards during a rally against corruption and to pay tribute to murdered journalist Jan Kuciak in Bratislava, Slovakia. Photo Credit:Joe Klamar/Getty Images)

Available now

23 minutes

Last on

Mon 17 Dec 2018 09:06GMT

Clip

Broadcasts

  • Thu 13 Dec 2018 03:06GMT
  • Thu 13 Dec 2018 06:06GMT
  • Thu 13 Dec 2018 07:06GMT
  • Thu 13 Dec 2018 14:06GMT
  • Thu 13 Dec 2018 15:06GMT
  • Thu 13 Dec 2018 18:06GMT
  • Thu 13 Dec 2018 20:06GMT
  • Thu 13 Dec 2018 21:06GMT
  • Sat 15 Dec 2018 17:06GMT
  • Mon 17 Dec 2018 09:06GMT

Podcast