Reporters without borders: 80 journalists around the world killed

journalists work in many countries with a high risk. Reporters without borders counted this year, 80 journalists, were killed. In this country the climate of the media hostile to the.

By Christina Nagel, ARD capital Studio, Berlin

The Numbers are and will remain a matter of concern. At least 80 journalists and employees of media have been killed this year - not only in their work, for example in war zones, but increasingly also due to their work: Because they reported on corruption, nepotism at the highest level is attacked or in cases of organised crime investigated.

Alarming, however, that more and more media would be locked up for professionals, says the managing Director of reporters without borders, Christian Mihr. Nearly 350 arrests was one of the organization this year. It is mainly Rapporteur in China, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Among the victims, more and more so-called citizen journalists, such as Mihr explains:

"citizen journalists are journalists, engaged in a journalistic activity, but this may not always be in your main job, but just in repressive countries such as China and Vietnam, a very important information gap to fill because it has a professional journalism there, very, very hard. These are the people that bring Youtube, Facebook and Twitter, Blogs, and important Information to the Public and we're counting you."

No improvement in the situation in Turkey

The most professional journalists are, according to reporters without borders, in Turkey in prison. There were less than 2017, the all-clear, but can hardly be the speech. Many of the Dismissed have only come under the restrictions and were still waiting for their verdict.

The release of Mesale Tolu and other journalists was only a diplomatic gesture.

For Mihr, the situation in Turkey remains dramatic. The release of some of the German journalists have changed this year: "The release of Deniz Yücel and Mesale Tolu were the only diplomatic Gestures to Germany because they had interest in the improvement of German-Turkish relations. But this has not led to any improvement of the situation in Turkey."

Targeted killings in Europe without consequences

In Europe deteriorated and has been for journalists from the point of view of the organization. In EU countries targeted killings of journalists remained without consequences, that is Responsible for impunity, is a new, worrying development, Mihr:

"Because of the murder of Jan Kuciak, like the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia is not cleared up, and there have not been punished in front of all the backers so far, or found. We also have the very strong suspicion that there is no interest, these are the men behind the track, because these two journalists have researched corruption in the highest government circles in both countries."

The backgrounds of the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia are not cleared.

The climate is become media enemy. The same is true for Germany. It'll be rushed, especially in the social media, getting louder and louder against journalists. There have also been more violence against reporters.

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